text: “So...what do you do for fun?” he asked awkwardly. She just laughed. “You’ve never been on a date before, have you?” He copied her laugh, shaking his head. “I’m not much of a people person, you know?” “I get that. It’s okay, I’m just messing with you.” They continued on their date, laughing and bantering with each other. There were moments of awkward silences, or as they called them, “silences.” These two were normally quiet people. But they were okay with that. The silences were just that. Silences. There was no awkwardness in them. Were they awkward people? By society’s standards, yes they were. But when they were with each other, they could be themselves. No longer were either of them wearing masks, hiding the quiet, sad people they truly were. That said, they weren’t quiet or sad with each other. They were free. They could be who they truly were. More importantly, they could be who they were meant to be. The silences, and their comfort in those silences, showed that they were comfortable with each other. And, even though it was never said, it was understood that if they weren’t saying anything, the company was still appreciated. It was more about being with each other than what they were doing or saying. That mattered more to them than anything else. Having someone who understood. They had gone most their lives without someone who truly understood them. People try to understand, at least the good ones do. But no one ever really does. But none of that mattered now. They had each other. They were together, united, working for one another. A month went by and nothing had really changed. A lot of relationships tend to lose that initial bit of spark after a while. They both knew it was coming, but it hadn’t yet. They didn’t focus on that though. Instead, they kept hanging out with each other, going to dinners, going to movies, spending time with one another in any way they could. Some days they talked more than others. But still, it never mattered what was said or how much was said. There’s a common quote that “Actions speak louder than words” and their relationship was proof of it. They knew what they had was love, even if it was never said it. By being there for each, by showing they cared, they proved how they loved each other. How could people who had met just a month or two ago be in love though? Well, it’s simple. It depends on one’s definition of love. For them, love was being able to care for someone more than oneself. Having someone in one’s life who gives meaning. Gives purpose. For so long in their lives, they were surviving, not living. Now, they each had something, someone, to live for. They knew how much they meant to each other and, because of their own past, knew not to take that for granted. They were two souls truly destined for each other. They were spending the night, her laying in his arms as they watched a movie. He kissed her on the head, something he had never done before. Neither were really the “physical” type. That wasn’t what made them work. She took special notice to that. “What was that for?” she asked blissfully. “I never really say it, but you mean so much to me.” She blushed, but didn’t say anything. “You’ve given me something that I never really had before.” “Oh yeah,” she replied with some snark. “What’s that?” “Happiness.