The end of the beginning

My husband and I both have our quirks. He teases me for freaking out when he makes fun of my O.C.D. measuring ingredients when baking and I drive him crazy when I space out and leave blinds open in the morning in our cave of a house.


This past weekend he helped me take some very moving pictures associated with my rape. I felt bad for having to include him since the final pictures we took left both of us a bit depressed. Before we went to sleep, he asked if I was ok. I told him honestly that I thought the previous day's activities left me a little dead inside. I wasn't looking forward to looking at and editing all the pictures we'd taken.


Some of the final shots were me in my underwear (totally not naked I promise) wrapped in a rebozo. My mom would probably kill me since it was a gift from a very rick member of the family in Mexico, but it made for perfect contrast. As soon as I got myself situated on this fallen log that had been burnt a little, I started crying. I didn't even try to start, it just came in a rush and I couldn't help myself.


Laying there next to him he said, "That was the hardest part for me. I had to disassociate myself real quick...Seeing you crying I had to think about you as the subject than my wife."


That struck a nerve with me. Sometimes I don't know if it was good for me to do this project or if I should have just kept it to myself. I can't thank him enough for how much he's been there for me.


While the semester is finally coming to a close, I look back and think about how my semester's been different being married.


My husband is an amazing man. Louis is my best friend and I feel like my life has really reflected that. Most students hang out with their best friends and roommates and I did just that, so I guess my experience hasn't been that much different besides the sparkly things on my left ring finger. I've busted my butt and had horrible days. And then I've had the best days and uplifting activities. My husband has been there through them all.


At the same time I can turn around and say I've been there for him. There were scares for him while his projects weren't going as planned and his section of the company were taking layoffs. At the end of the day, we're still growing and leaning on each other for support.


I will love him forever, until death do we part.