Love Quote #29 - "Nothing is more beautiful than a love that has survived the weathered journey of life."
The Weathered Journey of Life
Through it all
we survived it all
because we found
each other
From the camp in Atlanta
to the CDC
where I almost said good-bye to life
and hello to Amy again…
To the highway graveyard
You were there
I was there
we just didn't see other
not then…not yet
Then there was the farm
but before that, the cemetery
how sad is it
that we were in a place where the dead rest
although it was apparent
that you and i
were dead inside
and everyday in that group
felt like we were
the walking dead
I told you I'd cover you
if you'd let me join you
I was ready then, but you weren't
not then…not yet
Then one day we left
and never looked back
We ran into old friends
and made new friends
wolves in sheeps' clothing
How ironic
that we began
just as we were
on the verge of ending
He threatened to end your life
after knowing I was about to
walk out on you
That was when I knew
i'd do anything to
save your life
and be by your side
honor the vows
we made in the cemetery
I used what you taught me
against him
we barely made it out alive
but I know that if the dead weren't alive
we would've never met each other
"We would've never met each other…"
The last line trailed off quietly from Shane who sat on the sofa in the living room of their condo. He looked at the other papers stacked behind the one he was reading from. Apparently, Andrea's poem was quite long. He had only read the first two pages. Shane skimmed it and realized she had covered from the time they met to their current status: living in Maryland. There were several words and even entire passages crossed out, notes written in the margins, arrows pointing in different directions, red and black pen ink. Some of it looked confusing and he couldn't tell what was what. He figured Andrea knew, since she was the writer making edits and changes. Shane was about to continue reading when he heard footsteps behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Andrea standing in the living room's entrance, wearing a bright orange terrycloth robe. She looked like she had been sleeping and had just woke up.
"Reading my poem, Shane? It isn't finished yet." Andrea smiled as she sat down next to him.
Shane went to the last page and read the last line aloud. "Nothin' is more beautiful than a love that has survived the weathered journey of life." He handed her the papers and she took them. "Sounds finished to me."
"It's a rough draft."
"Didn't know you were a poet, Drea." Shane was impressed. "Gotta say, it's really good. You nailed jus' 'bout everythin' we went through together on the road."
"I did, but now it's time to cover our lives in Maryland. Some of that's in there, but I may edit it, change it around. That's why it's not finished. I may do a series of poems." Andrea yawned, clearly tired.
"Did you always write?"
"I used to write a lot in law school—it kept me sane."
Shane chuckled and then became serious. "What made you write 'bout us?"
Andrea was quiet for a moment before she responded. "I was thinking of how the brokenness of the outbreak brought us together. What our lives would be like if we had never crossed paths—and then I thought of all the crazy adventures we had trying to get here to Maryland."
"Well, it's a good thing we did cross paths, huh? All the death an' chaos, but in the end, we found each other."
"Uh-huh, that's the theme. Too bad I haven't thought of a title yet."
"I got your title. Pass me the papers." Shane held out his hand and Andrea gave him back the poem. "It's right here in the last line—'the weathered journey of life'." He pointed it out to her.
Andrea tilted her head in thought and then a weary smile flashed across her face. "Works for me."
