The yellow fairy lights strung up in our living room were creating a dim light as we watched TV together. Tata was in my arms, snuggled there. Maybe half falling asleep. I wanted to turn down the TV for him, but the remote was all the way on the coffee table. Moving would just disturb him more, so I let it be. 

He was full of a good meal. I'd made a stew, daikon and leek and good potatoes, pork and eggs, among other things. The broth was delicious. It was nutritious and filling, just in case he got sick from the other day when we were near each other when I was sick. We share a bed, so I thought maybe if he was going to get sick he already would have. However, I wanted to be on the safe side.

I'd gone to the small grocery store nearby our apartment when he was sleeping this morning. Gathering things for my stew. He'd be going to the bar to talk to another artist about performing, and Io would be there to show hospitality. So, I wanted to make sure that when he got home there'd be a good meal waiting for him. My plan was to let it cook as I recorded another song for my YouTube channel. Two things would be stewing, waiting for views on my video and waiting for the meal to be completed. 

I tended to like to upload my videos raw. Very little editing. I found it to be more intimate that way. My viewers seemed to like it, rather than over produced videos with lights streaming to the keys or other things with fancy effects. I did like those kinds of videos, but they just weren't for me personally. Instead, I could upload more often since I wasn't adding effects. The only thing I did add was the information for a song at the start of the video and credits at the end in case another artist was performing with me, which wasn't as often anymore, as that had tapered off with the end of the pandemic.

So, while I thought about the song I'd be recording today, I went around the grocery store with my basket. There hadn't been so many people out and about that early. I saw a mom with her baby, an old man going slowly and in thought just like me. I took my time, gathering the best for us. I did like to choose vegetables that weren't perfect visually, because others might not pick them. Sometimes, the best tasting were the ones that weren't perfect. 

When I got back home, Tata hadn't been awake yet. I really wanted him to get the most sleep possible, but I was still aware of what time he'd have to be awake in order to make his meeting. I kept that in mind as I set about my task. 

Cutting the vegetables and roots, making thin slices of pork. Adding seasoning to the broth and a thickening agent. Letting the broth cook for a bit, to bring out the flavor. The true flavor of the broth would come from the pork. So, the pork went in first. Then, after a while, the vegetables went in one after another. Then putting in more seasoning, for a finishing touch. When the stew was done, I'd be boiling eggs, too. Satisfied, I placed the cover on the slow cooker and went about my other tasks. 

Being quiet as a mouse, I began to clean our apartment. Little things, such as sweeping and then using a Swiffer mop. Gathering cat toys and putting them in their box. Dusting with a fluffy stick. There was more to be done, but these were small things that could often be overlooked. 

It was going on for time, but I sat on my piano bench looking at the sheet music for today. This special song that was a fan request. I didn't get them often, and it was a beautiful song. It wasn't something I'd have thought to put up there myself. It was from a Korean drama, and I'd never heard of it before they asked. But, it had touched my heart just as much as the request had. I wanted to play it perfectly, but also passionately. Most of all, I wanted that one viewer to be happy. 

Some time went by, and I checked my watch. It was a few minutes until the alarm was supposed to go off. So, I put the sheet music on its holder, and snuck to our bedroom. 

He was there, completely out. His mouth was open, so deep in a dream. I didn't want to disturb him, but. Oh, this was one of my favorite things in the world. My hands were up like a threatened red panda. Slowly going towards the bed, as if stalking prey. 

As I waited for the minutes to tick down, I thought about today. What we both had planned, but separately. How I wouldn't be able to see him for a while. How I had to savor this moment. One minute before the alarm and-

I pounced. My hands squeezed his shoulder and hip, rolling him over on his back. His eyes shot open and I let out a huge growl like a bear. My grin was so big, and his mouth was open so wide. 

"Ahhhh!" he gasped, just like always, but he was smiling once he realized what was happening. Laughing with me. 

"Wake up! Time to go to work!"

"Ehhhh?! What time is it?! Oh no- what time is it?!"

"I'm joking. You have hours."

"Ohh." His heartbeat must have been going a million miles per minute. I loved imagining it. 

I got up onto the bed with him, and he made space for me, lifting his blanket so I could come inside. My arm wrapped around him, and he sighed in happiness. Pulling him close, his sweet warm hair touching my mouth. Holding him like this. No doubt about it, he'd fall asleep again and the alarm would wake him up in about a minute. But this minute with him? It was my favorite minute. 

Now, late at night, it was another favorite time. As opposed to watching him wake up, I was enjoying seeing him fall asleep in my arms. He felt so safe, that he could do this. Drifting off into a dream. What would he dream about? Would he dream about what was happening on the TV, the dialogue going into his dream? Would he dream about the stew he ate? Would he dream of me? 

As I watched him fall asleep, I decided to hold him like this for a long time. Treasuring this time together, loving him like this. Another time just like this moment would never come. There might be other moments like this, but this moment was once in a lifetime. 

I dared not move as he became still against my body, his breathing slowing. Watching the TV beyond as I felt him surrender to his feeling, his familiar weight on my body. This joy in my heart, the fullness of my stomach with this good meal from earlier, this content feeling everywhere.