After thirty-eight years of marriage, he still looked at her as in 1986.
Time had changed a lot.
The body was no longer the same. There were a few extra pounds, wrinkles and all those insecurities that are often stronger with age.
One day he asked her to wear an elegant dress, more unspoiled than the ones he had worn for a long time.
She hesitated.
At sixty-two years he was afraid to feel out of place. He thought that dress belonged to a younger version of himself, to a woman who no longer existed.
When he left the room, he stopped thinking about the mirror.
In her husband's eyes she found the same look as when they met.
He wasn't looking at wrinkles, weight or years.
She was looking at her.
The woman with whom she had shared a life, crossed difficulties, built memories and learned to age.
He took her hand and reminded her that feeling beautiful should not have an expiration date.
Because authentic love does not remain firm to the person we were young.
Learn to recognize us in every change.
He sees time passing, but he doesn't stop choosing.
And maybe this is one of the deepest meanings of loving someone for a long time: continuing to say, even after many years, you are still you.