Always

by Anushree Rayarikar

Always (adverb)  
[awl-weyz] 
1. every time; on every occasion; without exception 
2. forever 
There is always a chance. 

Always (a word of love) 
It is 9:30 pm on a Friday night in 2007. Mom and Dad let me stay up late with them! It is the end of a long day of school, playtime, homework, and television. Now, the fatigue is setting in. My little legs are giving in to the wave of sleep that is cascading over me. Dad carries me upstairs and tucks me into bed; mom carries my younger sister, who fell asleep almost an hour ago on the couch.  

Then, together they say to us: “Goodnight, sweet dreams, I love you”.  

To which I respond: “Goodnight, sweet dreams, I love you too”. 

Then, as they do every other night, they say to me: “Always”. 

I say it back: “Always”.  

I fall asleep knowing that to be true, tonight and every other night to come.