her laughter rings even now in my ears, and his eyes as he proudly holds his girl, years into marriage, inspires me to love more deeply, to lean hard into the hugs of my man.
her personal achievments encourage me to run more, to take care of me, better.
…and then night fell, and it seemed to get warmer, somehow.
somehow we left knowing we were the ones who’d had a date. and we were sore from laughing till it hurt.