At 40, I agreed to marry a man with a disabled leg. There was no love between us…

I sat in the cold hallway, praying for him.

When the doctor came out, he smiled softly:

“The surgery was successful. He is a very strong man.”

I bowed my head, tears falling – not because of fear, but because I knew that God had given me more time with him.

As James woke up, he whispered:

“I dreamed that you were making tea. I knew I couldn’t go anywhere because I hadn’t had that cup of tea yet.”

I held his hand, laughing and crying:

“I will make it for you forever, as long as you are here.”

After the surgery, I took time off work to take care of him.

Every morning, I read to him; every afternoon, he sat by the window, watching the maple leaves fall on the porch.

One time, he said:

“Sarah, do you know why I love autumn?”
“Because it is beautiful?” – I replied.
“No. Because it taught me that, even if things fall apart, they can still bloom again next season. Just like us – even though we met late, this love still bloomed in time.”

I put the cup of tea in his hand and whispered:

“And we will have many more autumns, James.”

He smiled.

I knew that smile was the answer to everything.

A year later, James had fully recovered.

Every morning, we pushed the old bicycle out to the street, bought hot bread, and then went back to the porch to drink tea together.