The Secret Smile(Holly) A woman sits at a computer late at night typing, while her husband is hurrying around behind her. He is getting children’s clothing and putting it on the living room coffee table not but just a few feet from her. She smiles quietly a few times blatantly aware of her blessings. She leans back in her chair and tilts her head the way he knows is a sign of far off thinking. As a child she went through a lot, nothing she likes to talk about. Yet, she came out on the other side okay. She knows how fragile life can be having lived on the razors edge most of her life. She knows how rare people are that love you for who you are. The two children sleeping in opposite rooms in the main hallway are sleeping tonight with a security she never had.

Her smile tightens when she remembers things like this but softens again when she reminds herself of the miracle that evolved from it. She slips out of her chair, now done with her task, and goes into her son’s room. He’s fast asleep, his head lying heavily upon the pillow. The porch light is sneaking into the room through broken slits of the blind and rests gently on his face. She caresses his cheek and he stirs slightly. She turns quietly, backing out, unable to disturb him.

Her husband meets her in the hallway now done with the required prepping. Their eyes meet, his possess years of optimism and laughter and hers are beginning to take on the same quality. He corrects some hair that is out of place that had been swaying in front of her. He smiled knowing how she was oblivious to things of that nature. His hand slides down her arm and into her hand. This is the security she had so longed for as a child and an adult, it is the love without conditions that broke the cycle she was destined to follow. He leads her down the hallway, they both peak in on their littlest snoozing away in her bed, completely content. They stop to give her a gentle peck not wanting to wake her and quietly retreat into their room. They both slip into bed not needing words but rather the rhythm of their predictable habits soothe both of them. She lies on her stomach and he begins to gently caress her back. Her tension from the day recedes and a smile held even in deep sleep unawares to her creeps into the very edges of her cheeks. Also, unbeknownst to her a smile creeps into his face as well, he is very fond of that secret smile of true happiness and has worked hard to maintain it. He starts to drift along with his wife. Her day is done and tomorrow is already planned and waiting.

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