Love's Trials
The door slammed in Wolf's face for the second time in two minutes, then swung open just as fast as Tracy raced from the room to hug him and apologise, holding him tight and crying, the tears streaming down her young face.
As he hugged her close and wiped the tears from her pretty cheeks, he thought that love was not as easy as he imagined it would be.
He always seemed to be upsetting her, or hurting her feelings, or doing something that made her cry, and whenever he said he was sorry, she said it was not his fault.
It was a time of confusion for Wolf, who had taken to speaking slowly and carefully thinking before he spoke. Not that it helped much, because he never really understood what he was saying wrong in the first place.
He sat on the front doorstep and thought back to last week, when she had taken the old truck that they used to pick up their monthly groceries, and tried to run away.
He had been teaching her how to drive, but in her anger she had forgotten almost everything. The truck had plowed up their garden on the way to destroying their fence, and then met its maker in the form of a large oak tree just a little further on.
When his long strides had taken him to the site of the wrecked truck, a sheepish looking Tracy was standing by its side, all anger forgotten. The look on her face was too much for him and he burst out laughing, and after a few seconds of confusion she joined him.
They stood holding each other as steam gushed from the broken radiator, and oil dripped from the fractured engine
But the bad times were equaled and surpassed by the good.
Constant little touches and hugs that made his big heart melt, special little jokes shared between the two of them that had them both walking around grinning like idiots, Tracy's blushing cheeks as he told her how much he loved her, and his gentle kisses on those wonderful red cheeks, the sheer pleasure that each felt just to be in each others company, their daily runs through the mountains, shared only with the wolf cub Grrrrrr, and nights spent in the wilderness, alone, under the stars.
They had chosen two of the brightest stars as their own. Almost touching. As in love as they were.
Above all, though, was Tracy's unconditional love for him. No matter what had happened, she loved him even more afterwards, just as he did her. Together they were complete.
Through all their difficult times, Wolf never once regretted loving her. Never once thought of loving anyone else, and neither did Tracy. It was as if theywere born just for each other.
After one violent outburst from Tracy, Wolf was forced to sit outside and he spent the time writing her a letter. He had only recently learned to write, and was very proud of his new ability to put his thoughts on paper.
After he had finished, he snuck quietly inside and left it propped on the table where Tracy would find it, and then went on a long run with Grrrrrr. He was still embarrassed at sharing his thoughts, his emotions, and he wanted her to read it while he was not there.
Tracy found the note shortly afterwards.
Tracy,
In a sea of constant uncertainties where our love gives us brilliant happiness that changes to depression with the smallest thing, and smiles become tears at a second's notice, I am your rock, your island.
My love for you is the constant certainty that you can hold and grasp onto. It is the only never changing thing in this constantly evolving world. My love for you is rooted deep in the earth, it is immovable.
When you wake in the morning, you feel my loveflowing around you, warming you and keeping you safe. As you move through your daily chores, you feel my soul not very far from your own, and when you close your eyes to dream, you see our hearts beating in unison.
No matter how silly or hurtful you may have been, both my arms and my heart will be open waiting for your return. For you are the lady I have chosen and I will not wander far from your heart.
I think of the constant touches and kisses, of the secret words and special smiles that you give me so very often. These things are part of your love for me.
Together our love will overcome all obstacles, and we will be one.
Your heart & soul
Wolf
Tracy wept as she read it, both in love for her Wolf, and because she realised just what her temper tantrums had been doing to him. As the words etched themselves on her soul, she vowed to never hurt him like this again.
That night, on his return, she hugged him tightly.She never completely let go of that hug for many, many years afterwards.
The next day Wolf found this note on the table.
Wolf,
You are my man, my love. My heart has chosen you,
my love has chosen you, my soul has chosen you, and my future has chosen you.
I have loved you since our eyes first met. I have loved you everyday since then, and will love you every day until our stars fade and fall from Heaven.
The wolves howl my love for you to the moon, the wind whispers it privately to only your ears, and my heart beats out those words "I... Love... You...
"
I have done many silly and hurtful things that I regretted as soon as they were done. These were done through immaturity, youth and fear of losing someone I love as much as I do you. Forgive me for them, and for any silliness I might do in the future, because I will always return to your love.
My dearest Wolf. I wish you a dream for tonight. Dream of our love spreading through the mountains, of it filling the streams, of it falling from the clouds as gentle summer rain.
With all my love
Tracy
The dream wishing became a nightly ritual that both loved dearly and never missed. It was something very special to look forward to each night, as each wished each other the loveliest dream they could think of, dreams of wonder, of beauty, of love, and then each fell into a gentle sleep, their dreams still fresh in their minds.
*********************
Many, many years later you could find both of those letters framed and hung on their living room wall. Although both knew them by heart, they were still read often, and every word remained true.
