The other day, I was at a writing party in my neighborhood—basically a designated space for people to come together and write silently in community. The session usually begins with everyone going around to introduce themselves and say what they’re working on. On this particular day, there were a lot of writers and people were being brief.
“I’m M. and I’m editing a short story.” “I’m E. and I’m writing a fantasy novel.” I’m L. and I’m working on some song lyrics.”
Round and around we went until we got to the second to last guy, sitting at the table next to mine. I’d heard him and the stranger he was sitting by chatting and I knew what he was working on. Which made it all the more sweeter to see the reaction of the crowd when he said: “my name is F. and I’m working on my wedding vows.”
Cue “awws” and cheers from every corner of the room. Everyone clapped for him and the entire moment was almost too precious to handle.
But I had seen it coming. Rewind 5 minutes where I watched another man come up to F. and ask to share his table. They casually exchanged greetings and “what are you working ons?”
And when the first man said he was working on his vows, the second man melted into the floor. “Oh man; that’s amazing! Congratulations. When are you getting married?”
I watched from my adjacent table as the second man talked about how he got married in 2012 and how he’s a crier and how he just sobbed and sobbed. I watched these two strangers who had met moments before and whose only lasting connection would likely be sharing a table at a community writing event absolutely trip over themselves with joy and excitement and love. So, so much love.
February will continue to push candy hearts and pink balloons. But it’s moments like these that remind me that the purest love can be found everywhere, if you choose to believe in it.
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