Warm socks
Cheeks sore from smiling
Fresh vacuum lines in the carpet
Trees silhouetted against the sunset.
Sudden, crazy inspiration
Sunlight cutting through the morning fog
An unexpected or long-anticipated bear hug.
Colors, each and every one
Suppressed laughter bursting forth
That dog's begging face.
Sinking into bed after a long day
Your name remembered by an acquaintance
A new pan of watercolors
Twirling in a full skirt.
A familiar face spotted in a crowd
The thrill of discovery
The first and last pages of a book
Dance parties.
The sky in every mood
Milk swirling into coffee
Horses' fluffy winter coats.
Sliding on a wood floor with socks on
Braiding each other's hair
Baby leaves emerging from a twig.
An unknown reader's notes in a secondhand book
Healed scars
Clear, still waters
That sparkle in your eyes.
Sharing secrets from the depths of our sleeping bags
Running through a warm summer rain
A lost loved thing, newly found
Wildflowers.
Inside jokes
Dappled light patterns on the sidewalk
Tears of joy
Steps in sync.
An armload of greenery
Creamy chai tea
Watching you do something you love.
The first star sighting of the night.
Cold outside, warm and bright inside
A child clinging to you like a koala to a tree trunk.
Crossing an item off the to-do list
Bare feet, thick grass
Golden hour- every single second of it.
Hands- small, large, holding, held
Wind-tossed hair
Your crisp shadow.
Paint-smeared skin
Excitement so great it shakes you
Remembering something from childhood
Bokeh and blurry self-timer photos.
The world flying by outside the car window
A prayer answered, large or small
Old stories that still ring true
You reaching out for me, for me.
-Alayna