His socks

I was climbing down the stairs from my local train station, and I saw this man in front of me - three day stubble, messy hair, jeans folded up above his ankles, funny coloured socks. I couldn’t help but notice his bright yellow socks against a grey winter’s day. With green stripes across them, and black and white prints of Timon and Pumbaa from the Lion King.
He was walking along with his fingers entwined in the sleek, elegant fingers of a beautiful girl. She had her head on his shoulder and a soft smile on her face. She didn't care about his unkempt hair, or faded jeans, or his socks. She was happy just to have this wonderful man in her life. To share her everyday with him. To be his.

We are so arrogant, so selective about the people we associate ourselves with. We want that perfect man or woman that everyone approves of. Someone who checks all the boxes, not just the ones on our list, but also those of our friends, family, colleagues...

But what we tend to forget is that we aren't perfect. Not even close. We all have our annoying habits and unconventional choices, our emotional baggage, our colorful socks. We don't need someone perfect. We need someone perfect for us. We need someone who will put up with all of those flaws, and accept us in spite of them. Someone who will still wake up every day and want to be with us. Someone who is willing to ignore all of those checklists, and hold our hand, and show us off to the world.

Because at the end of the day, none of those things matter. Not age or race or career choices or financial stability. Society may ridicule and judge couples who don't fit into their cardboard cut out of the perfect relationship. But what this society doesn't see, what it can't see, is the way they feel about each other. The way her kiss makes his heart race. The way his stolen glances give her butterflies. Anyone can see what he's good at but she's the one person who is allowed to see his imperfections. To everyone else, she may be guarded, but with him, she lowers her defences and lets herself be completely vulnerable. No one can see those little details. The perfect love that these two imperfect people share. It's their own little secret, unknown to the world around them.

Even the most seemingly well matched couple can't have what they have. Every love, every relationship is different. If no two people are alike, how can what they share be?

The thing to remember is, different doesn't make it any less real. Or any less special.

And that man with the funny socks might just be the one she'll happily grow old with.