I’d started running as a teenager. It had given me an excuse to get out of the house, get away from my parents, and every time I’d gone out, I’d fantasized about never coming back, about picking a straight line and sticking to it, until I was somewhere far away from them. I’d always come back though. Out of fear, I think, fear of what they’d do if they ever found me. Then the moment I’d graduated, I’d run away for real, only to find that my parents hadn’t done a damn thing. Maybe I should have run away ages ago.

Not wanting to think about my parents on a day that could potentially be amazing, I forced my thoughts back to my girlfriend. God, she was so incredible. She filled me with light, filled me with hope, and I wanted to do the same thing for her. Tonight needed to be special.

About halfway through my run, I reached the park where I liked to work my muscles. My park…and Kiera’s. Sweat poured off me as I did some pushups against a park bench, and pausing a moment, I took off my shirt. As I was doing so, I heard giggling off to my left. I didn’t turn to look, but I couldn’t help but smile. Kiera had appreciated my form at this park on more than one occasion, and now whenever I heard the titter of intrigued girls, I thought of her…checking me out, back when she wasn’t supposed to be checking me out. Sometimes, during dark moments, I wondered if Kiera would have fallen for me if I looked differently…more average, more unremarkable. Sometimes I worried that once my looks failed, or if something happened to make them fail prematurely, Kiera wouldn’t want me like she did now. But I knew Kiera loved me for me, the person behind the face, so I had to believe that wouldn’t be the case. Hopefully.

Finished for the day, I shoved myself away from the bench and stood up. I accidentally faced the group of girls and caught them openly staring at me; one of them even had their jaw dropped. It was flattering, amusing, but it was also a reminder. My looks were what most people noticed, what they instantly craved. But my looks had nothing to do with me. The real me. Kiera was the only woman who’d ever delved deep enough to find the well-buried core of me. I loved her so much for that.