My love story

We met at work. You interviewed me, in fact, my head all around how much I wanted this job, not around your tall strong body, your long capable hands. Later, when I had the job, we were together constantly, you teaching me, me teaching you, finding each other out. You ran too, 22 marathons to my 3 then. Then we went to Barcelona. Three days of work, you asked if I wanted to stay a couple of extra days, since we were making the trip. Business, business, then mid-day Friday, we were free, wandering the streets. Later, dinner, another colleague with us, eating, laughing, drinking, until 4 in the morning when we wandered off to our hotel, co-worker off to another. We walked the streets, you carrying my shoes, tall and happy beside me. And then, sudden, unexpected, you were kissing me, telling me how proud you were of my finishing the marathon days before, telling me you loved me.Two days later, we were back in Chicago, back in our real lives, and I couldn't stop thinking about you. We spent three months figuring things out, seeing each other at work every day, keeping it all secret, talking for hours to and from work. The turning point came at New Year's - you had the flu. I came to take care of you and sort of never left. There are moments that are frozen for me, after the kiss in Barcelona. In January we were in London with a group from work, riding in a van with everyone, you reached down in the dark and cupped my calf gently in your hand, secretly caressing me. Then it was March, we'd been dating six months. We'd been traveling together for work for weeks. Then, I went to Rome to run the marathon, you went to Aspen to ski. After the run, I sent you a text telling you I had finished, fine, good time. You sent back "So proud of you, congratulations. Now come home." Later, of course, it fell apart, but for a few moments it was perfect and great. Two years later, we've regained some of the friendship. We talk, we had dinner here a few weeks ago, and it was funny and good, but the longings are gone for me. You saved me, and for that I'm always grateful.