A Decade of Marriage, A Lifetime of Love: Celebrating A Rare, True Love

A Decade of Marriage, A Lifetime of Love:

Celebrating A Rare, True Love

Love does not always need to be declared loudly, but it can exist in silence

in patience, and in the understanding that transcends words

Philip & Me

Today, my dearest husband, Philip, we celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary, a beautiful milestone in a love story that stretches back over two decades, but, if I am being honest, it feels more like we are toasting more than 20 years of a life, rich with love, small moments, and adventures, a lifetime of joy, sorrow, laughter, tears, triumphs, and trials, ten years, as husband and wife may be the marker, the truth is, we have been each other's constants for so much longer, we have weathered countless seasons together from the happiest days to the heaviest ones, that define who we are as a couple, through it all, our love do not waver with life’s storms, but instead grows stronger, adapting to whatever comes our way

Philip, you have loved me with a depth that few are lucky enough to experience, since it is easy to love someone in blissful moments, or in good times, but it takes a rare and special kind of love to stand firm in times of struggle, in the silent spaces of heartbreak, and all the unspoken challenges, when words fall short, pain is overwhelming, and simply being there is the truest expression of love, as you have stood by me through every chapter, and most profoundly, losing my darling mum so suddenly and so unexpectedly has casted a shadow over my heart, through this unimaginable loss, you have been more than just a husband to me, you have been my rock, my light in the darkness, as I drift far from the surface

Celebrating this milestone is a testament not just to the joyful years we have shared, but to the love that has remained unshakeable in those difficult ones, especially, when you had to learn how to live with me in my grieving state, to adapt to a new reality in which I, your wife who was once vibrant and laugh easily, has become a partner, whose heart was shattered, whose mind is lost in memories, whose spirit feels distant and worn, as you mourn not only the loss of my Mum, but also the temporary loss of the person you married, thus it must be exhausting for you to watch me swallowed by my grief, yet you see me fully, you know that I am not lost, only in transition, and your love is strong enough to carry me through

You love me even as I stumble through the haze of my sorrow, and your love has provided structure in a world feels crushed, carrying me through days, when everything feels fragile, your patience is a gift, I can barely comprehend, feels like a steady hand on my back, your willingness to sit with me in whatever form I need, feels like love in its purest form, and you allow me the solitude to process my grief, without question, or hesitation, never demanding anything of me that I am not ready to give, never seeking to fix my piercing pain, but rather to respect the journey I am on, to hold me close when I am absent-minded, to honour what is sacred to me, so in this selfless way, you continue to teach me what love truly is

One of the things I have loved most about you, is your love extends far beyond just me, as you have taken my family into your heart, treating them as your own, with the same loyalty, care and dedication, particularly in your ongoing support of my brother Faxi, who faced the complexities of a painful separation, in these trying times, you have been there to listen, to encourage, to offer advice when needed, and most importantly, you have done this not out of obligation, but from a place of genuine spirit, you have proven, time and time again, that your love does not just focus romance, companionship or inward but radiates outward, it is a powerful love that uplifts, that embraces everyone who holds a place in my heart

As we mark this milestone in our journey together, my heart swells with a gratitude, though silent, when the weight of grief makes it hard to express my immense appreciation for you, but in these 10 years of marriage, and all the years before it, I am endlessly grateful for the quiet consistency of your love, this love, requires no fanfare, no grand gestures, or no loud proclamations, but a love that has been a source of my greatest comfort, so I am sure that my Mum, would be so proud and so grateful for the way, you have held me in her absence, and she would have seen the purity of your love, the same way I do, I may unable to say it now, I hope one day to tell you how you saved me in this darkest season of my life

Here is to a decade of marriage, to the decades before it, and to all the years, we have yet to share, I am in awe of the wonderful life, that we have built together, a promise to love for one another, an affirmation of the commitment we made to each other, even when life tests us in unthinkable ways, as this anniversary is a celebration of resilience, of the beauty, that lies in loving and being loved deeply, so here is to you, Philip, my husband, my best friend, to the partner, who has loved me through my highs and my lows, who has been my heart’s refuge and my most cherished companion, who has been my home in this world, in this life and beyond, I am thankful, to walk this path with you, Happy Anniversary, my love