He had seen the movie before many times. It was a movie that he felt had changed him in some way. He couldn’t describe it, but it was something about the moments between the two leads that made him believe in something greater than himself. It was a story in which life took a backseat to love and in the end it was learned that love was life. It was simple and beautiful.

When he heard it was coming back into the theatre, he was thrilled. He jumped around the room saying he couldn’t believe it until he was too exhausted to jump or yell. He lay on the floor panting that he couldn’t believe it in a whisper.

She was automatically enlisted to join him for the re-premiere or re-miere of the film. He began to speak of the film as if it was a message passed down to earth from God himself. He described it in the way one might describe a scroll of hope touched by the very pen of God. He performed a thunderous light show with words as an ode to this marvelous picture and he squeezed her small form rejoicing that she would now be able to experience it on the big screen.

“Oh, you are blessed, my love. You are blessed!”

He sat next to her reeling with anticipation. She was smiling at his desperation for her to enjoy the movie and his incredible pulsing energy from being able to see it again himself. He warned her that she should pay attention even through the opening credits because there are some things that she might notice that will come in to play later in the film. She promised she’d pay attention.

As the movie played, he watched her intently out of the corner of his eyes. She would miss certain subtleties by reaching in the bottom of the bowl for more popcorn or going for his hand. She didn’t laugh as hard as she should at certain parts. She didn’t seem as distraught as he was at others. She didn’t seem as involved, as one with the characters. She didn’t seem to be enjoying the movie as much as he was.

It was that realization that ruined the remainder of the film for him. He had suggested this and she wasn’t completely lost and committed to the story. He began to feel a burden for her enjoyment. Was he to blame for a wasted evening? How dare he push this onto her? But the burden quickly changed to defensiveness. This was a great movie. He knew it was an amazing movie. How dare she not like it? How dare she not submerse herself in it completely?

Stronger than these feelings was the painful thought that he might not be able to stay with her. This movie made him who he was. How could she love him and not love this movie? Did she only love certain parts of him, just not the parts that were extensions of this film?

He faced the screen and tried to just enjoy this holy cornerstone in his life.

“Mind if I go get some more popcorn?” she asked in a nervous whisper.

“Do what you want.” He didn’t care anymore.