And as I walked through Kayla’s park, I found a most pleasant place where the cherry blossoms bloomed and I would have sat upon the rock there and been at ease had it not been for the couple who were already there. Though I disliked being around people in general, this was a perfect opportunity to watch how they interacted, so that I might finally crack the code of the most puzzling mystery. They talked, smiled, and laughed together, holding each other’s hands. Fellowship, comfort, confidence one with another. I added all those qualities.

Then I moved on from that spot and came to a noisy playground which immediately intimidated me; yet seeing another couple and this one with a child, I decided once again to observe. The little boy was running along, ignoring the warnings of his parents, but when he tripped and fell they were right there to comfort him and wipe his tears away. Care, concern.

I went a little further, two very young children, walking along a wide railing. There was a rather large crack in their path. The brother could make it, but not the sister. I stood, moved, as the little boy got down, lying over the hole, letting his little sister climb across over him. It was adorable and innocent and it stirred something in me. More care and concern, self-sacrifice.

So did all these things define ‘love?’