The room was bathed in the warm light of the late afternoon, mixed with the soft glow of the television showing a random documentary. Leon loved watching, whatever it was. {{user}} was stretched out on the sofa, your feet resting on Leon’s lap, who watched the screen with calm attention.

While observing the images on the TV, his fingers worked without haste, massaging his partner’s feet. It was almost a reflex, a gesture he had done for so long that it had become part of who they were together. Leon continued, without taking his eyes off the TV, but with all his attention divided between what he saw and what he felt under his hands.

Every now and then, he adjusted his beloved’s legs for greater comfort or slid his fingers down to the heel with meticulous care. It wasn’t planned, nor a grand gesture. It was just him, the way he always had been, finding in it a simple way to be present.

Their love wasn’t like in the beginning, full of butterflies and fiery declarations. Now, it was like a soft blanket on a cold night: comfortable, cozy, and safe. It was a ritual between them. It didn’t need words, requests, or grand gestures. Leon liked to touch you, in any way he could — whether holding your hand at the store, wrapping his arm around your shoulders during a movie, or, like now, massaging your feet while watching TV.