Patient Battles

She gazes at him over the pages of her book as he sleeps soundly on the opposite end of the couch. His body curled up like a cat, his eyelids fluttering as he lives his subconscious life in the land of dreams. She takes a deep breath, a breath of appreciation, a breath of wonder. They have been through so much together. She can barely remember her life before he exploded into her world and turned things upside down, forcing her to grow in ways she never thought possible. She can feel her heart expand as she remembers the gentle unfolding of the protective petals that once surrounded her strong, yet fragile heart. There were times when she fought so hard to stay hidden behind the self-created fortress, digging deep for her warrior spirit to protect her from her fears and deepest desires. Like a shapeshifter, he found the smallest cracks in her walls and managed to meld himself to fit inside. He was patient and kind. Letting her feel like she had control when all the while he was deconstructing the fortress one piece at a time. She fought hard. She fought long. But in the end, when her ego was tired, she knew there was no way that her fear could triumph over her opening heart. He won and it was the sweetest victory for both of them.
She is nudged back to the present as she feels him stir, opening his eyes for a brief moment before drifting back to sleep. She rises from the couch, pulls a blanket over his body, and gently kisses him on the lips. She returns to her book with an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude, knowing that some battles are worth fighting.