The heavy drapery framed the wall-length bay window in cascades of cerulean blue and pearl as she stared out into the effervescent Chicago moonlight. Her lithe frame was unusually tense tonight as the extreme pressure and anxiety of the past year and nine months was finally within hours of coming to an end. Over. This will all be over.
She shut her eyes and fought back the urge to weep. She wanted to cry tears of exhaust, frustration, elation, nervousness and well...fear. But she knew the man reclining on the chaise lounge did not need to see her cry tonight. He needed something more from her. He needed what she had been giving him throughout their entire journey and he needed it in extra large doses. Now was not the time to break. She turned away from the window and walked over to the chocolate-brown leather lounge. She stood silently behind it for a few seconds, letting her hand trail along the sprawled out man’s collar bone as she leaned forward near his ear.
"So...do you have anything fun planned for tomorrow?"
He jumped slightly, as if she startled him out of far away thoughts. Cocking his head back and looking up into her warm eyes, he grinned and shrugged.
"Well, you know, now that you mention it, I don’t. Why? You wanna take me out on a date?"
She laughed and planted a light kiss on his nose.
"Oh I think you owe me a date or two mister. And I want the works. No cheapies. I know how you can be." His laughter warmed her twice over as she walked around the chair and kneeled in front of him. She rested her hand over his and looked him over. Still in good shape, but looking a little thin, and a lot tired.
"How about a special trip to Washington? You up for that?" She stared into his eyes.
"I might be able to manage that for a few days. I’ll even throw in a White House tour. If I can get one."
She laughed softly, breaking his gaze and looking into the flames that were blazing in the fireplace a few feet away from them. Minutes of silence went by as he lazily ran his fingers through her hair.
"Barack..."
"Hmmm?"
He was struggling with needing to fall asleep but being far too wound up to do so. She could hear it in his voice, feel it in his touch.
"I am so proud of you."
He inhaled deeply and released the air slowly, as she continued.
"Your daughters are proud of their daddy. I am proud of my husband. And this country is proud of their future leader. You have fought through this thing with so much....I don’t even know what to call it, Barack. But whatever it is, you have it. You had it from the first time you ever approached me and it’s grown even more powerful over the years. I’ve never seen anything quite like it and the fact that I’ve been able to be by your side, helping you fight....I have never been so proud. No matter what. No matter the outcome tomorrow, you are one great man and I’m so in love with you." Her voice faltered to a whisper and her head dropped as those tears she desperately wanted to hold back, slid down her brown sugar skin.
He sat upright and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, gently catching her tears with his fingertips.
"You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. Thank you."
He slid down onto the floor next to her and spread his long legs out in front of him. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it as they both stared into the fire, embracing the warmth.
"No matter what huh?" He asked, looking at her sideways.
She grinned and nodded. "Yeah. No matter how bad you beat him and send him packing back to Arizona, I’ll be here."
Now, of course I don't know eactly how the night before is really gonna be for them. But the love that's so apparent, the strength and class that Michelle has lent his entire campaign, and the fact that in 3 weeks, it really will be over (Or just the beginning, depending on how you look at it)....I can only imagine what that moment is going to feel like for our future First couple. What are your takes on it?