That day I hadn’t really planned to do anything special, nothing out of the ordinary, at least. But somehow, when I got dressed, I put on warmer clothes than usual, and when I was filling my pockets with my everyday junk, I added a little extra cash.

When I met her at the fence where we always met, she didn’t speak, and neither did I. We didn’t need to. Speaking was never necessary, in fact, the only word we had ever said to each other was “hello.”

That day, when we ran, we ran all the way to the end of the fence. We always did, there was nowhere else to go, but on other days, we would turn around and go back. This time I kept going…and she went with me. Naturally. We ran along a small path through the woods just wide enough for the both of us.

I couldn’t keep the joy from bursting out of me. I loved her, I just knew it. I was sure the ecstacy was painted on my face as I leapt in the air and shouted. She laughed, but neither of us slowed.

I saw on her face the same exact joy, and I knew this was right.