There's something in the air today. The August sun streams through the open window. A welcome breeze flows through it. Mornings are best. The room has not yet succumbed to the heat that will later prevail.

A cat mews. There is movement in the bed. First a shuffle of sheets, then a pillow is tossed to one side. Legs and arms stretch – a yawn is accompanied with a muffled groan. The man is awake, and his initial smile turns into a frown as he realizes that he is alone. His space in the bed is empty - the sheets are cool. While the extra room is appreciated for the stretch, the void is now noticed - his lover is missed.

Where is He?

Slowly sitting up, he rubs his face and cards his fingers through his hair. Balls need to be scratched. Lazily he pets the purring cat, who is kneading his legs with his paws. OK – time to get up. With a grunt and a final rub of his thighs he rises and wanders to the bathroom to perform his morning rituals.

Where is He?

It's really quiet.

Leaving the bedroom, he pads down the hallway, and smells the coffee. Aha!

When he enters the living room he sees the curtains dancing to the song of the breeze that is now flowing through the apartment as all windows are wide open. There's something in the air today.

As he turns from the living room into the kitchen, he stops, leans against the wall and admires.

There He is.

His everything.
The love of his life.

God, He's gorgeous.

How did they get to this place? The road was long.

High school
Year long separation
College
Student exchanges and internships

And still - here they are - together – more in love now than either ever imagined possible. It shouldn't happen that easily. But it did. The impossible dream made possible by naivety and sheer determination. Not without drama. Not without breakups that seemed so necessary at the time but ended up being needless panic when one would come to his senses and run back to the other – confessing undying love. They both had done it at different times – doubting that they had found their true loves.

He's sitting at the table in the nook, reading the newspaper and drinking coffee. Clad in boxer briefs. His hair is all kinds of crazy. He is perfect. The cat is now rubbing his leg for attention. He leans down to pet him and says:

"Hey buddy. I thought I told you to go wake him up!"

"I'm awake"

He startles. He looks up and the reflection of the morning light has his eyes bursting with colors so vibrant it's breathtaking.

He smiles. It's that huge motherfucking grin that makes the man bat shit crazy with love. That special smile that is reserved for only him, tells him that he is loved. Reminds him that he will always be loved.

"Babe"

He rises, enveloping the man in a hug, kissing him softly on the lips.

Another grin.

"Good morning sleepyhead. I thought you'd never get up. Coffee's fresh. Let me pour you a cup."

"Yeah... please... that sounds wonderful."

There's something in the air today - it's palpable - they both feel it.