Key to our Relationship

This weekend I went through all the keys on M’s key ring. It’s clasp is getting old so I need to replace it before it breaks and I lose keys.

It was one of those things that caused tears. I don’t particularly like to drive. M usually was the one that drove until…until…she became sick. We worked from home so we were literally together almost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so I didn’t need a set of keys. We had spares of course, but I never carried them with me. When I did drive to go meet a friend for dinner or what not, I just used M’s keys.

Well now the key chain needs replaced. We had a similar freebie one in our junk drawer, but I had a notion that I should get something fun that fits me. In looking at them on Etsy, I started crying. Mermaids, butterflies, rainbows, and LGBTQ ones all captured my attention and all made me think of M. Think of my relationship with M.

Our car was an important piece of our life. We traveled to and from Denver. We went on trips across the country for work. The whole time we were in the car, we talked. We rarely listened to music. We talked. We discussed issues in our relationship, projects we were working on in the house, goals we had for the next week or next year, fears that were keeping us up at night, passions that brought us excitement and joy. We talked about everything. We made our car a safe place to share with each other.

I can see the keys hanging from the blue keychain in her hand as we got in the car. So many words spoken as that keychain dangled from the ignition. That keychain represents a vital part of our relationship - communication which brought connection and intimacy in ways that I still am in awe of what we created.