I know I'm still young
But, I know how I feel
I might not have too much experience
But, I know when love is real.

He had been twenty-five years old. She had just turned twenty-one. He had met her in, where else, a bar. She had been out with girlfriends, getting over a break-up with some boy from her college. But, from the first time he saw her, he knew that he had to have her. It was like no other attraction he had ever felt before. Her long black hair, her beautiful brown eyes, those soft pink lips. Lao Shi was petrified of this gorgeous creature. Still, he went over to her and asked her name. Xiu Ling Song. When he repeated it, it felt like heaven on his lips. Her smile put him on cloud nine, and when he led her on the dance floor, he was afraid to let go, lest he lose her.

By the way my heart starts pounding
When I look into your eyes
I might look a little silly
Standing with my arms stretched open wide.

Six months later, his life was her. He couldn't go an hour without calling her, without hearing her voice. He couldn't wait to spend every day with her. And though he might be moving a little quickly, he went and bought a ring. He couldn't stand her just being his girlfriend, couldn't stand them living in two separate homes. He needed her to be there when he got home, to fall asleep next to her, to wake up knowing that she was his and he was hers and that nothing would ever come between them. So that night, he took her on a walk. The spring air was slightly chilled and she cuddled close under his arm. As they passed through a park, he heard a far off band playing. He recognized the song. It was the song they had first danced to. She pointed it out. He stopped and faced her, and the words just fell naturally from his lips, just proving that this was right. "Six months ago, I asked you to dance. Today, I'm telling you I love you and asking, baby, marry me?"

I love you this big
Eyes have never seen... this big
No-one's ever dreamed... this big
And I'll spend the rest of my life
Explaining what words cannot describe but, I'll try
I love you this big

He didn't care that the church was stuffier than his suit. He didn't care that the late summer heat was causing them all to sweat. All that mattered was her, in her beautiful red dress with that smile he was addicted too. He could barely remember the vows. When he looked back on his wedding day, he remembered her. He remembered those thick black lashes framing light brown eyes that were full of love for him. He remembered her soft, shapely, painted lips. He remembered the gentle blush on her pale cheeks and the way her long dark hair was pinned up, curls framing her face. He remembered the golden designs on her dress; dragons, as she had long since known his secret and accepted him for it. He remembered the sweetest words he had ever heard in his entire life, "you may now kiss the bride".

I'll love you to the moon and back
I'll love you all the time
Deeper than the ocean
And higher than the pines.

When their daughter was born, he didn't think he could stand it. As he sat beside his wife in a hospital bed, their newborn between them, he was full of so much love, he thought that he would die. He couldn't imagine loving either of them more. There she was, beautiful, strong, in love with this new being that was a product of their love for each other. Then, there was his daughter, his Susan, with light eyes like her mother's and a nose like his. She was already proving she was strong, like her mother, stubborn like him. Everything was perfect, life could not be better.

Cause girl, you do something to me
Deep down in my heart
I know I look a little crazy
Standing with my arms stretched all apart.

Susan's wedding was something that she threw herself into, heart and soul. Susan relied on her mother for all the details, and he was happy to watch her eyes light up as she talked about dresses and food and shoes and guests and other things that made his head spin. But she was happy, his daughter was happy, and though he wasn't sure what he made of this american husband, as long as Susan was happy, he was happy. Everything now was happy. It was spring and love was everywhere, for everyone. Susan was married, he and his soul mate were together, how could life get any better?

I love you this big
Eyes have never seen... this big
No-one's ever dreamed... this big
And I'll spend the rest of my life
Explaining what words cannot describe but, I'll try
I love you this big

Twenty five. That's how many years they had been married now. It had been twenty-five years since they had publicly pledged their eternal love for another, though he had known from first sight that he was destined to be with her. Age had only made her more beautiful in his eyes. Her hair was shorter now, and she often wore it up, something he always tried to negate, pulling the pins out of her buns so that her slightly greying hair would frame her face as he danced with her around the kitchen. There were soft lines around her eyes now, but her eyes were still the same; beautiful and in love. He would hold her hand and brush his lips across her knuckles, cradling her in his arms, bringing her little gifts. He did everything he could to show her that he loved her, but it could never be enough.

So much bigger than I ever dreamed my heart ever would
I love you this big
And I'd write your name in stars across the sky
If I could, I would

He didn't like America, and he especially did not like this New York City. Neither did she, he could tell, but they were happy to be here. Here in this land of huge buildings and busy people, they were happy. They stood in a hospital waiting room, seeing nurses and doctors bustle by, waiting for Susan's husband to appear and announce the birth of their grandchild. When they had a grandson, and learned his name was Jacob, she couldn't stop repeating it. She held the boy just moments after his birth and her eyes shone bright as the stars as she kissed his forehead and fussed over their daughter. He was by her every step of the way, hand on her waist, lips on her cheek.

I love you this big
Oh, eyes have never seen... this big
No-one's ever dreamed... this big
And I'll spend the rest of my life
Explaining what words cannot describe but, I'll try
I love you this big

She was complaining about her looks again. He listened attentively, like any good husband, but he didn't understand. He didn't see what she was talking about. He didn't see the "fat" "wrinkles" "rolls" "bags" "puffiness" "spider veins" and other things she went on about. Finally, one night, after she had spent many long minutes in front of the mirror, he went and retrieved a picture of her at twenty-five. He sat it next to the mirror so she could see both, took her hand and said, "The woman in the picture, she is beautiful. But this woman in the mirror, she is exquisite. She is not only beautiful in the physical sense with her bright eyes and pink lips and soft hair, but she is beautiful in the way of gentleness, how she cradled our daughter and our grandson. She is beautiful in the way she kisses me goodnight, and how s She never fails to say she loves me. She is beautiful in the way she provides for those she loves in any way she can. She is beautiful in how she is forgiving and kind, funny and smart, wise and curious. Your beauty is how you smell the bouquets of flowers I bring home for you, the way you always have to listen to my heartbeat as we lay in bed. Your beauty is not only what you look like, my love, but in your experiences and your actions and how you love." She had never complained about her old age again.

I love you this big
Oh, eyes have never seen... this big
No-one's ever dreamed... this big
And I'll spend the rest of my life
Explaining what words cannot describe but, I'll try
I love you this big

He couldn't let go. Her hand, her physical hand, was limp in his own. According to the doctors, she had passed away forty-seven minutes ago, but the sickness had her in a coma for three days now. He sat with her body, in a hospital room that was threatening to swallow him whole, and stared at her face. This face he had not gone a day without seeing for decades upon decades. He sat and let the barrage of memories overwhelm him; her laugh, their first dance, her wedding dress, the skilful way she prepared his favourite meal every Sunday night without fail. Tears in his eyes, he kissed her on the forehead, on her lips and whispered his goodbye.

I tried to mix traditional Chinese wedding culture with the North American wedding culture I am more familiar with. The song is 'Love You This Big' by Scotty McCreery.

~TLL~