"SOFIA!" Bekah screamed out in the middle of the night. I noticed her body covered with sweat, and tears were streaming down her cheeks. For the past year she had been waking up several times a week, sometimes a night, with nightmares.

I quickly gathered her into my arms and rocked her back and forth. I whispered, "It’s okay. You’re safe. I’ve got you."

She buried her face in my neck and continued to sob. She said through her tears, "Don’t let…them…hurt me, please! Fia, don’t… let them… take me!"

I kissed the top of her head and gently rubbed her back. I assured her, "Nothing is going to hurt you…I’ve got you." I gazed out the window of our small apartment, and shook my head.

She cried, "The Nazis…they…they’re coming…"

I told her, "There are no Nazis here, baby. We’re in New York, in America. There are no Nazis…" We had moved to New York a few months after the war had ended. It was at the point that Bekah could not function in Germany. She was always afraid of being sent back to a camp.

She asked, "No Nazis?" Her arms encircled my waist, and squeezed tightly.

"None, you’re safe," I asked her softly, "What did you dream about, Bekah?" She lifted her head and I placed tender kisses all over her face. Looking at her in the moonlight, I couldn’t help thinking how beautiful she was.

"It doesn’t matter, Sofia. I love you." She said as I lay back with her in my arms.

She rolled on top of me and I didn’t know what to expect. We had only been intimate once since being liberated. Even then, she would not let me touch her. After several moments she said, "I’m going to make love to you now. There’s nobody who can tell me I can’t and nobody to fear. You don’t have to be quiet and neither do I…"

I nodded. Her words sent a flood of wetness down between my legs; I was ready for her right then. It had been so long since she had initiated anything other than a short embrace.

Her mouth covered mine in a searing kiss. Her hand trailed down my body and stopped between my legs. She broke the kiss and said, "You’re ready for me now. Do you know what that does to me?"

I shook my head and replied, "No…"

Her fingers rubbed against my opening and then up to my clit. I arched into her touch. She husked, "It makes me feel like I am human, Sofia. Like you still want me and need me. I love that, Fia, I love it so much." Her lips brushed against my throat, and then against my collarbone.

She was so gentle and so tender with me. I knew that this is what making love really was. It was showing someone how you feel, as well as telling them. Touching them with such a sweet and tender need, that they wanted to cry. Right then, I was in heaven with Bekah, but I wanted to cry my heart out. I never in my life felt so loved.

Her lips brushed against my chest and then my belly. Finally, she reached my center and she began placing the softest kisses there. She whispered to me, "You taste so good."

I felt her tongue glide down the length of me. I moaned and I silently started to cry. My entire body reacted to her loving touches, and caresses. By the time she sent me crashing over the edge I was sobbing.

She crawled up my body and lay on top of me, her arms supporting her upper body. She kissed me softly and I could taste myself on her. I wanted to taste her. She whispered, "I want to be good to you…never hurt you."

I pushed her over to her back and covered her body with mine. I said to her, "Darling, you are the best thing I have ever had. Even with all we’ve been through I would never, ever change a thing."

She smiled, and I loved her. I loved her with all that I had to give and then some. I loved her like there would never be another tomorrow; like this was our very last goodbye. After that, we both fell asleep content and secure with the knowledge that our love would keep us together forever, no matter what tomorrow would bring.

Rebekah held me securely against her in her sleep. In her arms, my head on her shoulder, I felt like I would always be safe. There was no other place in the world that I wanted to be, but it was time to get up. I kissed her chin lightly, and ran my fingers through her hair. "Rebekah, it’s time to wake up."

She stirred and her eyes opened. She smiled at me, softly and said, "I don’t want to. I want to stay with you."

I returned her smile and told her, "After work you can be with me all you like. Now it’s time to start the day."

"I know." She replied as she loosened her grip on me. I crawled up and she kissed my lips. "Good morning, Sofia."

"Good morning." I said to her. I rolled out of bed and helped her up. I told her, "Go shower, and I’ll have breakfast ready when you’re finished."

She pulled me close to her and said, "Thank you for loving me. I love you." She kissed me once more and ran her hands down my shoulders.

As she headed toward our small bathroom I told her, "No, thank you for loving me." I pulled on my robe and went to start our breakfast.

Soon, Bekah emerged from the bedroom, dressed in a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt. We both knew these were not things that she should not be wearing, but it was pretty complicated to work in a dress. Bekah got a job at a Jewish Deli, and did well for us.

Bekah sat at the table and smiled at me. She asked, "What are we having?"

"Eggs and toast." I told her. I brought her a plate and set it down in front of her.

As I did this, she pulled me into her lap and wrapped her arms around my belly. She said, "Don’t cook dinner tonight. We’re going out." She said.

"Where?" I asked her. We had only been to dinner in America a few times. They were all for special occasions, and usually at a diner.

She kissed me again and said, "You’ll see when we get there. Just make sure you dress nicely." She let me go to get my breakfast now.

I smiled at her and agreed, "Alright, Bekah."

I made up my plate and sat across from her. I asked, "How are things going?"

"As well as I could hope for. I don’t have many problems at work, I mean everyone there is Jewish. It’s coming home, or stopping in other places that gives me a problem." She explained as she ate.

"I know. They don’t really like me either. A lot of the people here don’t like Germans, and they don’t like me." I took a bite of egg and swallowed. I commented, "I think it’s the accent."

Bekah nodded, "It couldn’t be anything else. Personally, there isn’t a thing about you that I don’t like."

"You’re biased." I told her. I then asked, "Is there anything you want from the store today? Grocery day." I looked around our small kitchen and inwardly smiled. It wasn’t much bigger than an icebox, but it was ours. This was our home now.

"Just fruit and coffee. A pack of cigarettes too." She added. Since the war ended she had taken up smoking. I think it was to calm her nerves, or something. I was just glad that she didn’t start drinking like some of the others we had met.

"All right." I said as she handed me three dollars. "Thank you." I said.

Bekah frowned and told me, "Don’t thank me, Sofia. What’s mine is yours and you never have to thank me for something like that. I don’t need thanks, I just need you." She finished her breakfast and stood up to clear her plate.

"All right." I told her. She set her plate down in the sink and helped me to my feet; I smiled as I rested my hands on her shoulders.

Her hands planted themselves on my hips and she smiled back down at me. She said, "I will see you at five o’clock." She lowered her head and placed a chaste kiss on my lips.

I returned her kiss and let my fingers run through her long dark hair. This was something I had missed for so long. Now that it had finally grown back I could not stop. I repeated, "Five o’clock."

"I love you." She said.

I kissed her once more and replied, "I love you too."

****

Things were different in Germany after the war. The country was being rebuilt and I was working to support Bekah and I. Although we were living with my mother, I knew that she could not support all of us. Bekah couldn’t get a job there; she wouldn’t leave the house there. After being liberated and coming back home, she was still afraid of being sent back to Auschwitz. A month after we were released I asked if she wanted to come to America. She wanted to come, so I set things in motion.

Unfortunately, it took some months to get the documents to come to America. Sometimes it was like taking one step ahead and then three steps backward. Eventually, we were able to leave Germany. We were lucky, because we were smart. Since we had time to prepare, I put away some money every week. With that and the money I had saved before the war we had enough for our fare and some left over. My mother and my sister also gave us some money to get started. So with what we had, we got an apartment in the city, and paid our first month’s rent. We still had a little left over, which we decided to save.

****

I went to the market and picked up the things we would need for the week: Eggs, bread, cheese, milk, meats and Bekah’s fruit, cigarettes, and coffee. My trip was uneventful, and passed with very few problems. There were a few men mumbling something about hating Germans. That was okay by me, because I didn’t care for them much myself. I did not understand how they could do what they did.

I came home, and went about cleaning up the house. I had a light lunch and finally had a shower. I did not realized how quickly the time passed, because before I knew it Bekah was home. She walked in around five-thirty and greeted me with a hug and a kiss.

"Hello." She said.

I said, "Hello."

She stepped back, looked me over, and then grinned. She commented, "You look really good."

I was wearing a dark skirt and white blouse. I still had not caught up to the times, because I refused to ever wear high-heels. My hair was pulled into a bun at the back of my head, but I left a few tendrils loose. Bekah brushed one on them back behind my ear. I replied, "Thank you."

"Any time, darling." She told me. She smiled again and finished, "Let me change and then we can go."

I nodded and let her go.

****

Bekah and I walked through New York; it was a nice evening. I looked over at Bekah, who in my opinion looked wonderful. She wore a pair of black slacks and a white blouse. Her hair hung loose over her shoulders. The clothing she wore was simple, but on her, I thought it looked more than right. We walked for about fifteen minutes and finally stopped in front of a very high-class restaurant.

She said, "We’re here." She smiled down at me.

"Here? Bekah, it will cost a fortune." I replied. I wasn’t sure why she decided that we would eat here. As far as I knew I hadn’t done anything great, and it wasn’t a special day.

"I know, and I have enough to pay for whatever you want. I kept putting money away every time I got paid." She explained.

I still didn’t understand, so I asked, "Why?"

She smiled and led me in. We were seated in a far corner and handed our menus. I could not believe how much some of the food cost.

Bekah finally answered me. She whispered, "I made you a promise, Fia. I promised I would take you to the best restaurant I could find, so I am."

I looked up, and into her eyes. I never doubted how much she cared about me, or how honest she was, but this was too much. At the same time, nobody had ever gone through any kind of trouble to keep a promise to me. Bekah had, and it took her nearly a year and a half. I even remembered when she made that promise…

****

****

After a long silence, I said, "You didn’t have too…"

"I did." Bekah replied.

I whispered to her, "I love you for that."

She smiled and told me, "I know. Order what you like."

We ate our meal in silence. We both knew that no words could describe the way either of us were feeling. Bekah would look up and smile and I would catch her gaze and smile back. Her eyes said everything to me that she could not. I am sure that mine replied, with an equal amount of feeling, love, and adoration.

****

After dinner Bekah and I took our time walking home. When we finally arrived I said, "Thank you so much, Bekah." I rested my hands on her shoulders and my head against her chest.

"Anything for you." She told me, as she guided us both toward our bed.

We undressed each other and lay our clothing out over the chair in the corner of the room. We both sank into our bed, and decided to have an early night. Tonight I lay down, and Bekah curled up in my arms. I knew that when she said "anything" she meant that. I felt at peace with her in my arms and I knew that she felt the same way.

They say that time eases pain. They say that in time, memories fade and you are left with a small stroke of time, where you know you felt something. I say that this isn’t true. There are some wounds that time cannot heal, and some memories that eons of space and time will never erase. There are always moments in time that you remember with such clarity; that they are so clear you would swear that they happened moments before! I always knew that Bekah struggled with these moments, because I did, myself. One day in particular reminded me that no matter how far we go, we will always be plagued by these memories.

****

I knew that Bekah would be home soon, and I knew that I had already started dinner. As I looked through the cabinet I realized that I did not have the spices to season it. I decided that I would have enough time to run to the corner market and get back before Bekah did, so I went. I turned all the burners to low, and the oven to low and I ran out quickly. Well, I was wrong. There was a massive line at the market, and the streets were crowded. I was out for a whole hour before I returned, but nothing would prepare me for what waited at home.

****

I opened the door of our apartment and was relieved to find that it had not burned down. However, I was afraid. Bekah’s jacket was on the floor, and one of the chairs was over turned. I could hear her in the bedroom. She was sobbing. My first thought was that she had been hurt, so I ran as fast as I could to her. I noticed her curled into a corner holding her knees to her chest. Her entire body trembled, and she kept repeating, "No, no, no. Not my baby! Not Sofia."

I covered my heart with my hand and realized exactly what she thought. I knew she thought someone had taken me. I ran to her and I pulled her into my arms. I started assuring her, "I’m here, Rebekah, I’m right here."

Her arms wrapped around me and I pulled her closer. She asked, "You’re here?"

"Yes, I’m here…God Rebekah, I’m here…" I promised her. I knew I shouldn’t have left, and I knew why she was crying the way she was. I remembered a time that seemed so long ago. A time that should have been long gone from her memories and mine…

****

In 1939, the war was just beginning. Bekah and I were at a turning point in our relationship; a point where we were trying to figure out where we stood. In my office, actually the attic of my house, we would spend hours talking and sharing small kisses and short embraces. There we were safe. The attic was connected to my bedroom, so that was the only way to get in. A trap door in my closet was the entrance, and my father said I could have it as my space. So, I would spent hours up there writing, thinking, or talking to Bekah.

I sat on the floor with Bekah in my arms. I kept kissing her cheeks and running my fingers through her hair. I told her, "I’m here, Bekah, I am always here. I love you."

She buried her face between my shoulder and my neck and continued to sob. I could tell how frightened she was; she didn’t need to tell me. She finally asked, "You’re really here?" She looked at me, tears still trailing down her cheeks.

"Yes." I whispered. I tilted her chin up and kissed away her tears.

She whispered hoarsely, "I thought someone took you, Sofia. I can’t lose you…I can’t live without you."

"Come on, Bekah, let’s get up." I said as I stood. I helped her up and pulled her close. My head rested against her chest and her cheek against my temple. I asked, "Do you want to eat?"

"No…we can save it for tomorrow." She replied.

"Okay." I agreed. I asked, "Do you want to go to bed?"

"Yes." Bekah told me.

"All right, let me go put the food away and then I’ll come back." I said. She nodded, so I disentangled myself from her and made my way to the kitchen.

****

I went to the kitchen and put the food away. Several minutes later I returned to find Bekah smoking a cigarette and staring out the window. I moved behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, resting my cheek against her back. I smiled, realizing that she had gained most of her weight back.

"Ready for bed?" I asked.

She put out her cigarette and nodded her head. I turned her around and she let me undress her for bed. I slid her shirt over her head, and then sat her down. I unlaced her shoes and took them off, along with her socks. I slid off her jeans and got her out of her bra and underwear, then led her to the bed. She lay down while I undressed myself and minutes later I was right next to her.

"Sofia, I need you to hold me, please?" Bekah asked. It sounded more like she was begging.

I felt like crying. My wife, someone who was usually so strong, was begging for something she knew she could have with out asking. "Come here."

She crawled over to me and wrapped her arms around my stomach, her head rested on my chest. I pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. I whispered, "Goodnight, Bekah. I love you."

"I love you too." She whispered. She kissed me and then added, "I can’t live without you, Sofia. If not for you I would have died so many times. You make my life worth living."

"And you make mine." I said. Moments later she drifted off and I whispered, "I love you, Rebekah. You’ll never know just how much." I smiled, and didn’t worry that she was asleep. I knew she heard me, and I knew that she felt the same way.

I smiled to myself as I walked down the streets of New York. Everything was decorated for Christmas and a thin veil of snow blanketed the city. Bekah was at work, and I made sure I let her know that I might not be home when she returned. I was Christmas shopping, and with the holiday around the corner I still had no clue what to get for Bekah. It wasn’t as though she had been of much help in that department. She’d always reply, "If it comes from you, I’ll love it." I was just glad that for the past few years she did celebrate Christmas. Since the death of her family she had all but given up her religion. She’d say it wasn’t the same without them and that maybe there wasn’t a God. I felt that we all needed something to celebrate. I knew it wasn’t the birth of Christ she was celebrating, but the good company and happy atmosphere.

For the past seven years, Bekah and I would have our own celebrations. She had no family, and she could not be seen while we had guests. Since 1939 it had been the two of us together, celebrating everything from our lives to our love. Although we have built so many wonderful memories together, it seems t only the ones holding pain as well as happiness that come to mind. Our last Christmas was a nightmare, spent in a concentration camp. But we had each other and that was all we needed to get by.

****

It was a bitter cold morning that would lead to a bitter cold day and night. We all realized it was Christmas, if not for the fact we kept track of days, but we could hear merry voices of the Nazis. We were all huddled in our bunks trying not to think of the pain we were all in. We were all trying so hard not to think about our empty bellies. They hadn’t feed us in nearly two days, and we doubted they would for at least another.

****

I woke up alone in bed on the morning of Christmas Eve, which didn’t bother me very much. In fact, I would have slept longer if not for the smell of something burning. I didn’t even think to get dressed, I just jumped up and ran to the kitchen. "Bekah!?" I called out. The panic in my voice was evident, even to me. I was almost convinced I was back in Auschwitz; the burning reminded me of the crematoriums.

"It’s okay, Fia!" She called back. Her voice was confidant and reassuring.

I entered the kitchen to find Bekah in her bathrobe, staring down at a frying pan. She was poking something with a spatula and cringing at it. I asked, "What did you do?" I was trying to calm myself down, but tears were already streaming from my eyes and rolling down my cheeks.

"It was supposed to be breakfast in bed, but, ummm…" She turned around and smiled sheepishly. She asked, "What’s the matter?"

I stuck out my tongue at her and approached the pan. I looked in and saw little bits of what appeared to be coal stuck to it. I asked, "What was it supposed to be?" I hoped she would let it slide, because I didn’t want to upset her.

"Scrambled eggs. The toast is over there." She said, motioning to the table.

I looked at the "toast" and cringed. I asked, "Black toast?"

Bekah shrugged and replied, "I like it like my coffee?" She tried. She then added, "I was going to make today special."

I slipped into her arms and told her, "You already have."

"How so?" She asked as she took off her robe and wrapped it around me. She stood clad in her striped pajamas. They looked a lot like the ones that our fathers used to wear.

I inhaled the scent of her on her bathrobe and found it to be very comforting. I replied, "Just by trying. You want me to make something edible?"

"Only if you let me scrape the frying pan." She bargained.

I stood on my toes and kissed her lips. I said, "Well someone has to do it, because it’s the only pan we’ve got."

Bekah rested her hands on my hips and lowered her lips to mine. She kissed me tenderly, and increased the pressure of her mouth.

I tangled my fingers in her dusky hair, as I pulled her bottom lip into my mouth. Her lips parted, letting me in; I brushed my tongue against hers.

Bekah pulled me closer, and she let her hands slip inside of my robe. Her hands rested on either of my breasts and her hips pressed against mine. When we finally broke apart she smiled again and said, "Good morning, baby."

"Good morning, Rebekah." I replied.

"So are you going to tell me why you’re crying?" She asked. She pulled me over to the kitchen table and sat down in a chair. She then pulled me into her lap.

I rested my head on her shoulder and relished the feeling of her strong arms wrapped around me. I replied, "No…"

"Why?" She asked. I knew that Bekah was being patient with me. She tenderly kissed the top of my head and rubbed my back with one of her hands.

I kissed her neck and told her, "I don’t want you upset."

"Tell me?" She asked again. She used a soft and comforting tone.

I relented and whispered, "The burning reminded me of Auschwitz and the crematoriums. Sometimes I’m afraid, Bekah."

"I know, Fia. Sometimes I’m afraid we’ll have to go back. Even here in America I can’t forget." Bekah told me. She tilted my face up and kissed my lips. She continued, "But if we forget, then who will remember? If we forget it can happen again."

"Then we won’t forget." I told her. I looked into her eyes and I said, "I’m just so happy that I had you with me."

"I know and I feel the same. You were my light." Bekah told me.

"Breakfast?" I asked her.

She nodded and agreed, "Anything."

*****

After breakfast, Rebekah and I decided that spending a day doing nothing would suit us. I lay on our sofa, wrapped in Bekah’s arms. There was no special reason she was holding me, just that she wanted to. She asked me, "Are you happy?"

I nodded against her shoulder and replied, "I am very happy, Bekah. I have you and you are all I will ever need to be happy. Are you happy?"

"Almost elated." She replied.

I looked up and gazed at her. Her chiseled features had gone incredibly soft, and a warm smile covered her face. Her blue eyes twinkled mischievously. I loved the way they crinkled when she smiled. I asked her, "What do you mean, ‘almost?’ You aren’t elated right now?"

Bekah let me go and asked, "Let me up, Sofia. I need something…"

I shrugged and allowed her to move from beneath me. She disappeared into our bedroom and emerged a moment later. She helped me sit up and then knelt between my knees. I asked, "What’s going on, Bekah?"

Bekah looked up and cupped my cheeks with her hands. She said softly, "This was supposed to be your Christmas gift, but it’s close enough and I can’t wait any longer," She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small gold wedding ring, with a small diamond in the center. Continuing, she said, "I always dreamed that I would ask you properly, and I wanted to do it with a ring. I never thought I would have the chance to do so, so I asked you before. Now I am doing it right. Sofia Theresa Reinhardt, will you marry me and be my wife?"

I smiled and I was speechless! The first time she asked me we were both so hurt, and sick. I always wondered if she regretted asking me, or if she had done it for some other reason. I just never understood how she could love me the way she did. I replied through my joyful tears, "Yes, Bekah, I want to be your wife…forever."

Bekah smile grew even greater as she slipped the ring on to my finger. She told me, "I’m so amazed at the way you love me, Sofia. I am so amazed at the way I love you…God, Sofia, I love you!" She pulled me up and pulled me close to her.

Our lips met quickly, in a kiss like no other. It was full of love, tenderness and caring, but at the same time we were consumed by urgency, passion and lust. Before I realized what was happening we were undressing each other, and comfortably naked. Bekah guided me down, onto the couch and slipped her thigh between my legs. I adjusted mine so it was against her center.

We broke from our kiss and I said, "Don’t be amazed, Bekah. If you think I could ever be without you then…stop thinking…" I moaned as she pressed against me.

"All I want to do is make love to you, Sofia, for the rest of my life." Bekah whispered. She moved down a little bit and began to nip at my neck. All it took was a moment of time and a few sweet words, and I surrendered myself to her completely.

****

Christmas morning, I did not wake up alone. Bekah lay by my side, contentedly playing with my hair. I opened my eyes when I first realized what she was doing, only to be pulled into a strong embrace. Bekah whispered to me, "Merry Christmas, Fia."

I smiled at her and replied, "Merry Christmas, baby." I kissed her softly .

For us, the Christmas of 1946 was one of the happiest either of us had ever. We were together and safe and more importantly, we knew that we would always be together now.

****

I woke up with a start, and started sobbing and curled into a ball. I must have been crying loudly, because seconds later I felt Bekah spooned behind me. She held me close and I got as close as I could to her body. She asked me, "What’s wrong?"

I asked her through my tears, "Why did I let them take us?" I knew that it was my fault that Bekah was outside. That was something that always haunted me.

Bekah shook her head and placed a gentle kiss against the back of my neck. She told me, "It’s not your fault. I had been inside for so long. I knew I shouldn’t have talked you into letting me outside. It’s not your fault." She rolled to her back and I rolled with her.

I positioned myself between her legs, with my head resting on her chest. I admitted, "I always thought that you might blame me- - I thought you might stop loving me because of it."

"Oh Sofia, I’d love you even if the sun never rose again." She kissed the top of my head and began caressing my back. She added, "I love you so much."

I asked, "Hold me?"

Bekah nodded and told me, "I’ll hold you now and stand by you forever."

I smiled through my tears, because I knew that what she said was the truth. I knew that she would stand by me forever, because we had already been through so much in the past year. I knew that if we could overcome the year of 1944 then we could face anything that God decided to throw at us and come out strong and still so in love. I knew that at the end of every storm we would be greeted by sunshine and happiness together, hand in hand. There was nothing that would, or could, ever tear us apart.

It seemed to me as time passed that things between Bekah and I just kept getting better. We were celebrating Independence Day in America and from our apartment, we could see the fireworks going off. Blues, greens, reds, and purples filled the dark sky. The cheers of the people below us reminded us of just how fortunate we were to be living in such a great country.

I leaned against the fire escape; Bekah had her arms wrapped snugly around my waist. She placed a light kiss on my cheek and said, "I love you, Sofia."

I turned my head and looked at her, my eyes were filled with adoration. I admitted to her, "Ever since we were young, Bekah, I always wanted to grow up and marry you."

"You did, yeah?" She asked with the cockiest grin I had ever seen. Continuing, she said, "It’s a good thing you did, Sofia, because I can’t picture my life any other way. One thing though- -when I was younger I always thought I could get you pregnant."

I smiled and I laughed. I asked, "What made you think that?"

Her smiled faded a little bit. She explained, "When my mother was pregnant with Solomon, she told me that when two people love each other, then they can have a baby. She said a piece of each person come together to make a baby. Well, I loved you, and I always figured those ‘pieces’ were our hearts."

I smiled, "You’re so sweet, Rebekah." I turned in her arms and draped mine over her shoulders, and around her neck. I said, "You’re everything and more than I ever thought you would be. As for a baby, we had Benny. Maybe not under the best circumstances, and maybe not the way we’d have wished…" A tear rolled down my cheek, as I remembered our little boy.

****

****

Bekah kissed away the tears on my cheeks and told me, "When he was born, Sofia, I took one look at him and fell in love. I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t…I thought that was being strong for you."

"You were always strong to me, Bekah." I told her.

"Even though I couldn’t save him? Even though I can’t build you the perfect life, with everything that you deserve?" Bekah asked me.

"You’re here…my life is perfect." I told her.

Bekah sighed, "I know, but from the time I saw him I just wanted to build him a perfect life. I wanted to give him everything, Sofia. I wanted to see him grow up- - he was just so tiny, but so beautiful. His hair was like mine, but his eyes were yours. I just wanted to make everything alright."

I took Bekah’s hand and led her to the window of our apartment. She helped me through the window, and then followed after me. She decided to slump down onto our armchair, and I then slid into her lap. Her arms encircled my waist and I whispered; "He was beautiful and you did make everything right." I wiped the tears from my eyes and continued, "You did give him everything that you could. I know you did."

I leaned to the side and rested my head on her shoulder. She smiled lightly and told me, "Not as much as you’ve given me."

****

We sat that way for what seemed to be hours. How long it was I will never be sure, but finally Bekah broke the silence. She said, "There were so many things that I wanted to do, Sofia. For you and with you, but I can’t do them, can I?"

I rested my hand against her cheek and asked, "What did you want to do?"

"I wanted to keep you safe…and I wanted us to be able to go somewhere after we were married. Those were the only two that ever mattered." She said.

"I wanted to keep you safe, Bekah. As for a honeymoon, that’s not important. What is important is that I have you with me always." I gently reminded her. Kissing her lips softly, I did my best to let her know how much I loved her and needed her.

"I need you, Sofia. No matter what happens we’ll always have each other?" Bekah more asked than stated.

I smiled once more and nodded. I told her, "Even if we find ourselves in a place where there is no sun, and no moon. A place where there’s no heaven or hell; a place where streets and people have no names, we will always have each other."

Bekah sighed and smiled at me. She kissed me once more and said, "Then I don’t need to hear anymore. I know we’ll be okay…we have to be."

After that night we were okay; we were more than okay. In time, our lives became calm again, and Bekah and I grew even closer. I never thought that it would be possible to love her anymore than I did, but I was wrong. With every day that passed I would love her so much more. I would be one thousand times more thankful for my life just because she was part of it. Not a day ever passed where she didn’t tell me how much she loved me, or how much she cared. Yes, after that Bekah and I were more than okay. We’d be okay forever.