The Night He Fell in Love

I was standing at the airport the other day, waiting to catch my flight home from Italy when I happened to look over and see this older gentleman sitting alone on one of the benches. He looked a little lonely, so I wandered over and asked to join him.

With a small smile he nodded and I sat. It was quiet for a moment until he broke the silence. We started small talk and soon he told me that it was the anniversary of his wife of 67 years death. I felt awkward, but I felt it wrong to leave him after him sharing that with me. So I asked him how they met.

The story was thus: It was her first date when he came to call on her. She was only 18 and he 21. He took her to a show in town and when he walked her home, the stars were out. He held her hand and he felt like he was walking ten feet off the ground. The way she smiled at him stole his breath and he fell in love. He was walking her home.

Ten years later he was in the waiting room at one o'clock in the morning. They had a son, and she smiled when she said "he has your eyes." As she slept he held her and he thought about that first night. They wondered through the best days of their lives. 60 years together and he never left her side.

Then at a nursing home, the doctors said it would be her last night. When the nurse checked her room that night, she saw him laying by her side... he was walking her home. Just for a while, they were 18 again and she was still more beautiful to her than anything in life.

A true love story. I left the airport feeling a little hollow inside. Wishing I had a woman to walk with me. But I know I will.