SURPRISE!!!

For years and years the media has instilled in our brains that love at first sight is the most romantic form of fascination. Hollywood glorifies that initial moment when a man and a woman meet for the first time as if it is the most important. A lot of people buy into that and hope: that moment would be their experience with their future spouse. There is nothing wrong with that really. I think love at first sight is beautiful. But I put value in years of commitment, months of hard work, weeks of having fun, and days of thoughtful conversations.

Albert and Valentine is the kind of couple that I was talking about. They have been together for ten years. They must have spent countless of fun moments and trying times yet still find the fact that being together is their favorite place to be.

Everyone would agree with me that ten years is a significantly long time to be with someone. Those long years of being together might cause lovers to get jaded by the annual events that the year brings, such as birthdays. However, Albert still finds pleasure in celebrating those birthdays, especially Valentine’s.

Little did we know, the date of their wedding was not a random date they chose; it is also Valentine’s birthday. Rather than letting the moment casually pass by, Albert made sure that he prepared something memorable for his bride.

Everyone was waiting for Albert and Valentine’s big entrance. As the double doors opened and they graced the room, an army of friends and family sang happy birthday to Valentine. It was a picture perfect moment. Albert’s plan went perfectly without a glitch. Valentine stood there in disbelieve with her eyes fixated to Albert. Soon tears filled the rims of her gorgeous eyes. She couldn't believe he had planned this thoughtful surprise for her. It was at this moment that time seems to stand still. Ten years and counting, they are still each other’s dreams come true.

Time has a way of revealing the truest, most sincere feelings a person holds dear in their hearts. However feelings are fickle as it is powerless to our shortcomings as human beings. But when feelings mature into commitment, it surpasses the inconsistencies of feelings. And that’s what I admire most about long running relationship: the revelation of commitment. Time is a couple’s promise of, “I will always love you for better or for worse, regardless of my withering feelings.”