Amore - long

It was the kind of day that made everything feel a little more special, a little more magical. The sun was high in the sky, the ocean breeze ruffling through the air, and the scent of saltwater filled the atmosphere. Luigi and I were in Italy, celebrating our wedding anniversary. It had been years since we said "I do," but being here, together, it felt just as new and exciting as that first day.

We'd arrived early in the morning, ready to spend the whole day together in this beautiful country. After unpacking, we went out for a romantic lunch at a little café by the beach. It was the perfect setting—shaded by vine-covered trellises, a soft yellow glow from the sunlight, and a view of the sparkling waves.

I was sitting across from Luigi, watching him laugh as I tried to figure out how to properly say "thank you" in Italian. I had been trying so hard to learn, but still, some words got lost in translation. I always got frustrated with myself, but I couldn't help it. But, I loved the way Luigi would keep helping me, even when it was a bit of a struggle.

"You're getting better at it," he teased, his lips curling into a smile. "But I think you still need some practice, amore."

"I know, I know," I sighed, my shoulders dropping in defeat. "I'll get it eventually."

He shot me a playful look, reaching over to grab my hand. "Don't worry, you'll be fluent in no time." He said as he rubbed my hand gently.

"Sure, sure," I chuckled, rolling my eyes. "I'll believe it when I hear it."

The meal was amazing, just like everything else about the day. After lunch, we made our way to the beach. I laid out my towel to tan, my sunglasses perched on my nose as I let the warmth of the sun soak into my skin. I could feel Luigi next to me, his book open, absorbed in whatever novel he was reading. The peaceful silence between us was comforting, not awkward, just two people enjoying their time together in the most natural way.

I peeked over at him from time to time, admiring how relaxed he looked. His curls were a little tousled from the breeze, his sunglasses resting low on his nose as he flipped through the pages of his book. He had this easy, effortless charm about him that never failed to make my heart race. I loved everything about him—the way his mind worked, his quiet strength, the way he made me feel like I was the most important person in the world.

After a while, I rolled over to face him, propping myself up on my elbows. "You know, we should take some pictures while we're here. You know, for memories."

He raised an eyebrow at me, a playful grin forming on his lips. "I thought we were already making memories."

I rolled my eyes dramatically. "I'm serious. Let's take a picture to remember this day."

Luigi sighed dramatically, though I could see the fondness in his eyes. "Fine, but you're the one who's going to look good in every shot."

I smiled widely. "Exactly. Now, come on! I have to make you look good too."

We walked down to a nearby photo booth, giggling as we tried to figure out the best poses. It wasn't long before we were caught up in the fun of it all—laughing at our goofy faces, squeezing in close, kissing for the camera, and just being utterly in love with each other.

Later, we made our way back to a quaint café for an intimate dinner. Luigi had planned it for weeks—just the two of us, no distractions. The atmosphere was perfect: candlelight flickering on the table, a soft violin playing in the background, and the air rich with the scent of fresh pasta and wine.

As the night drew on, Luigi pulled me into the middle of the restaurant as a slow, romantic Italian song began to play. Without a word, he took my hand, twirled me once, and then wrapped me in his arms, swaying gently to the music. We fit so perfectly together, our movements fluid, the world fading away as we shared this moment.

I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. The music was soft, a perfect accompaniment to the quiet but passionate love we shared.

"You know, I'm so glad I married you," he whispered, his voice low, filled with tenderness. "I've never been happier."

I looked up at him, my heart swelling with love. "I'm the lucky one. I love you, Luigi."

He grinned, his eyes soft and adoring as he leaned in for a kiss. It was slow, tender, and full of all the emotions we couldn't put into words.

After the kiss, we sat down again, and I curled up next to him as we finished our meal. He read while I rested my head on his shoulder, content in the comfortable silence that only comes with being in love for years. It was as if everything—every little thing we had shared—was a promise, one that I would never take for granted.

As the night went on, we laughed, talked about our future, and remembered our past. Luigi and I didn't need grand gestures to feel the love. It was in the quiet moments, in the smiles, the soft touches, and the comfort we found in each other.

And as the night drew to a close, we walked back to our hotel hand in hand, our hearts full, ready for whatever adventure came next. Together.

Listen to amour mio aiutami by, Piero Piccioni.