Her day begins way before the light comes-

she needs no alarm, the roosters next door are usually dependable, and when not, her body, after so many years, needs no clock.

When she opens her eyes, she imagines this must be how it is always for Javier-this darkness so complete. After so many years, she knows the way to the small, efficient kitchen where she finds the candle with the match to light it easily in the dark. She fires the flame and lights the candle, preferring its light to the harsh onslaught of the electric bulb over the sink.

Lighting the candle, she offers up a small prayer of gratitude for the continued health of the household and for the opportunity to experience another day with the love of her life, Javier. 

With the candle lit, she sets the kettle on the stove to heat the water for their morning Tea-reaching for two cups from the shelf that holds them, she sets them tenderly on the tray-atop the embroidered cloth-along with two spoons and the small bowl of sugar. She removes the delicate pitcher from its place on the counter, and fills it with milk from the refrigerator, then places it, too on the tray, next to the sugar bowl.

While waiting for the water to boil (a watched pot never cooperates), she opens the shutters, feeling the rush of cooler air, and breathes deeply of the fragrant Jasmine blooming just outside, and smiles…What a delicious way to begin the day! She reaches for the water bottle and fills it to water the plant, just as she does every morning.

Timing this perfectly, after all these years-she turns back to the stove, just as the kettle begins to boil-and turns off the flame-avoiding the shrill whistle-reaching into the jar next to the stove, she chooses the teabags for this mornings’ tea-it seems a flavor-full Spice Chai is in order for today-full of Cloves and Cinnamon and Orange Peel-she puts one bag in each cup and fills them both with the steaming water-inhaling deeply of the spicy scent of the tea.

While allowing the teabags to steep, she takes  a plate from the cupboard and brings down the tin of Cinnamon biscuits, carefully places 6 of them on the plate, then puts the plate onto the tray. The final touch is the addition of two cloth napkins, tenderly folded into triangles. Knowing the tea is ready, she removes the bags, and picks up the tray.

She moves from the kitchen as the sky outside begins to lighten, and into the tiny room where Javier is just beginning to stir from his slumber. She calls out to him “Good Morning my Love. It is a beautiful day for us, I’ve brought our tea and cookies so that we can begin the day together”

Javier answered back to her, “It is always a beautiful day when we are together, my Darling”.

She puts down the tray and moves to open the shutters-so that the sky outside is visible to her. She moves to the bed and kisses her husband on both of his sightless eyes and on his forehead, then takes his hand and helps him find his way to sit at the small table where she has placed the tea tray. Their chairs face the open window, and as they sit to enjoy their tea and biscuits, she describes to him the way the light changes as the Sun rises, how the colors change on the clouds and the colors of the many birds who come to land in the trees and sing their greetings to the day.

Each day, this is how they begin-together-in Love