THE REEL OF US
My Dearest Love,
Today, when I think of us, it feels as though a series of soft, glowing flashes drift before my eyes — not a long rewind, not a dramatic montage — just the moments that shaped us, one after another, like tiny sparks in the dark.
FLASHES OF OUR BEGINNING
Flash.
Two souls in the same neighborhood, exchanging shy smiles and eyebrow greetings.
You mistaking my voice for my brother — the moment destiny gently nudged us forward.
ICQ usernames.
MSN chats.
Scrabble duels.
Karaoke nights — and the song where your voice wrapped itself around my heart and never let go.
Walking side by side from office to home, your hand slipping into mine like it had always belonged there.
Flash.
FLASHES THAT MOLDED US
Flash.
A Qazi, an orange dress, a quivering dupatta, your teary smile, our vows — the moment we officially began our forever.
Patong, Phuket.
A monstrous wave.
Your instinct.
A fish truck.
High ground.
A miracle.
A beginning forged in survival.
Samitivej, Bangkok.
A tiny upside-down Kokko screaming like a newborn warrior.
Our home overflowing with laughter, school runs, countless ferry rides, homemade meals, and you whispering to your bougainvillea like they’re your botanical babies.
These flashes… they define us.
THIS YEAR — THE STRENGTH OF YOU
This year tested you in ways that would have broken many.
But you stood firm — fierce, steady, unshakable.
Your business hurdles.
Your long days.
Your headaches.
Your battles.
Where I would’ve collapsed — you held on.
Where I would’ve panicked — you powered through.
Where I would’ve fallen — you rose higher.
You hold this family together with a strength that is quiet, graceful, and unstoppable.
And if anyone doubts that?
Let them hear the full truth.
Flash.
Ramadan, you cut the tip of your pinkie, screamed in pain, yet lay on ER bed like a warrior.
I sat beside you, chest puffed, ready to be your rock…
Flash.
When I opened my eyes,
I was lying on your bed,
And you were sitting calmly on my chair.
That’s us in one scene:
You — power.
Me — unconscious comic relief.
THE BOY WHO TESTS ME DAILY
And then there’s our son — your perfect clone.
He has officially chosen me as his archnemesis.
Every day feels like a miniature war.
He throws shade.
I counter.
You mediate like a UN peacekeeping force.
Peace lasts four minutes.
Then we begin again.
And the Breaking Bad incident?
Unforgettable.
We suggested a cartoon.
He demanded Breaking Bad.
We explained.
He insisted.
We surrendered.
Ten minutes later, he hid behind a cushion like it was riot gear.
We didn’t laugh aloud —
But inside, we were in pieces.
THE LITTLE RITUALS THAT ARE EVERYTHING
We still do our tiny dance in the kitchen:
You cook.
I scrub.
You stir.
I clean the stove, the shelves, the walls, the ceiling…
I’m basically the vacuum robot — A happily programmed one.
Walking beside you on any red carpet makes me feel like I’m escorting royalty.
And when you give feedback on my films,
My heart doesn’t beat —
It drums, like Travis Barker warming up backstage.
And now you play Co2 on loop,
smiling at Prateek Kuhad’s soft whispery voice.
I’m not jealous… I just think I could whisper better if given a fair audition.
And Alhamdulillaah…
Life is shifting beautifully for us.
Especially for you.
Seeing you content feels like watching dawn replace darkness.
It fills me with a peace I can’t put into words.
AND STILL…
You are my strength and softness.
My laughter and calm.
My compass and my comfort.
My joy and my journey.
My Jessica — and now, my SV.
You hold this family steady with courage, wit, and boundless heart.
And I am endlessly grateful that after all these flashes, storms, joys, and years…
It is still you I walk beside.
Thank you for being everything you are.
Thank you for giving everything you give.
Thank you for holding this family together with your strength, your humor, and your heart.
Thank you for loving me in ways I never deserved but always needed.
Here’s to us —
To the story still being written,
To the adventures waiting ahead.
Happy 21st Anniversary, My Love
Cut to black.
Roll credits.
Soundtrack fades.
Forever yours,
Mahdi
Mahdi Ahmed 