Time is the one thing they thought would never catch up to them... but it did.
Time... went by ever so quickly.
The past decades past by.
And Steve continued to grow older.
Through the 2000's, and the 2010's.
He grew into the old man he always was on the inside.
All while his wife stayed young.
He didn't mind, because that meant he got to wake up to the same, beautiful face every morning.
Lauren didn't mind either.
She loved him no matter how old he looked.
Steve eventually retired from the library and stayed at home.
Lauren wanted to quit her job, but Steve wouldn't let her.
He wanted her to have the normal life she always wanted.
Around 2012, Lauren quit her job.
Her students were crushed.
No more could they drool over their proffessor.
Lauren spent her days with the love of her life.
They stayed in their home, in the lives they created together.
They played chess.
They read books.
They watched movies.
They found new TV shows to watch.
They took walks to the park.
They made their favorite meals.
Even in his old age, Steve still kept his tradition going.
He would make his wife dinner every night.
And Lauren kept her tradition going.
She would make her husband breakfast every morning.
And in the afternoon, they would go to the same diner, and share a milkshake.
Soon, Steve started slowing down.
It took him longer to walk down the stairs.
His hands would shake when he would cut food.
He would forget where he put things.
But Lauren was always right there by his side.
She would help him down the stairs.
She would help him cut food.
And she would find the things he misplaced.
One night, when Lauren came back from the store, Steve had a surprise set up.
Candles scattered across the living room. A bottle of wine and pasta on the table.
Lauren couldn't help but tear up.
She set down the groceries and walked to her husband.
She gave him a kiss on the lips, and he kissed her back with his wrinkly lips.
She wrapped her arms around him, and he wrapped his arms around hers as the music began to play to an all too familiar song.
Kiss me once
Then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
Steve rested his chin on his wife's head, and Lauren rested her head on her husband's chest.
Haven't felt like this, my dear
Since can't remember when
It's been a long, long time
As they swayed to the music, Lauren was careful to make sure that Steve didn't fall.
You'll never know
How many dreams I dream about you
Or just how empty they all seem without you
Steve looked down at his wife, and Lauren looked up at her husband. As they gazed into each other's eyes, they see home. They see their true love. They see everything they've ever wanted. They see their other half.
So kiss me once
Then kiss me twice
Kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
" Forever and ever."
" Till death do us apart."