Bus Ride Realizations - They don't even need words!

A middle aged couple sits in front of me. 

Happy survivors of the empty nest syndrome. 

Clearly, the lady has given up on make up a long time ago,

for why would you hold on to something that isn't anymore a necessity? 

That dim happy glow on her face is enough.
The man? 

Balding. Slight paunch. Weak eyesight.
She's sitting by the window and he's next to her, in a bus seat that's too tiny for his bulky, square frame.
Honestly, it doesn't look like it matters to them. 

She's already subconsciously hunched her shoulders and he's sitting as tenderly as possible, so as not to let his weight rest on her frame.
I've a weird obsession with jigsaw puzzles and right now they look like two pieces that fit the frame perfectly.
They're talking.
No.
Strike that.
They're having a conversation.
For,

 Once the bliss of newly married life walks away, leaving in its wake bitter sweet memories,
Once all the friendships you promised would be forever - get lost in the sands of time,
When your children who were once too tiny to reach the cookie jar on the high shelf -

find the house too tiny for their giant ambitions

 and

 they decide to fly away- 

what remains,
IF you're lucky,
is just conversation. 

He's taller than her.
And obviously, occasionally, she rests her head on his shoulders.
And he looks down at her with a mix of so many emotions. 

Grateful about her presence and still in a slight disbelief about his stoke of luck are the two most prominent ones.
They're exchanging glances now. 

They don't even need words. 
A shy smile here, a slight chuckle there, a stare held just a little longer than necessary, that's all.
They understand.
Her phone vibrates. A Whatsapp notification. 

He respectfully looks away. 

She doesn't bother hiding it anyway. 

For what is more intimate and private than the two of them?
When my parents go out on vacations together, I hope they have their moments like these.
Because.
Forget what all the books and movies and Instagram poets say, this probably is love.
Ability to communicate.
Ability to appreciate.
Ability to compromise.
Ability to stay.
Ability to struggle alone.
Ability to struggle together.
Ability to go through hell together and still have respect left for each other.

And honestly, even this is not enough.
It's the simple act of making a conscious choice to act on all these abilities.

It's the understanding that relationships take work, 

and the willingness of choosing to pour out that effort with all of your heart,  
and

The willingness to stick to your choices.
That is love.

~WispySilver