Years ago in college I was seeing a girl with whom I had become very close.
She was pretty, smart, principled, and interesting.
We were both TAs in the same department so we spent a lot of time near each other.
Officially we were dating but most of our dates were just going for walks and talking.
Lots of walking, lots of talking, maybe a dinner at my house.
After a few semesters it felt less like I was dating and more like I was hanging out with my best friend.
On one outing, we decided to walk a path at a nearby forest preserve.
The weather was perfect to be outside: cool and dry, just warm enough not to need a jacket.
We walked until we were alone and found a place to sit.
Then we talked.
We talked about school.
We talked about our families.
We talked about our ambitions.
We talked about the games we play.
We talked about our philosophical views.
There was a while when we were both just enjoying the peace together.
Then she started to share funny anecdotes, like ridiculous answers she finds grading tests.
She was also fond of telling me stupid jokes that were too bad not to laugh at.
It was easy to laugh out loud, feeling so comfortable and secluded.
She was staring at me a lot, as though she wanted me to say something.
I tell her how I think people take laughter for granted, "it feels really good but is easy to overlook."
She said she likes it when I laugh because, "it makes you smile a lot."
She continued, "I like it when you smile, it means you're happy."
Flattered, my expression went from a shy grin to an elated smile.
I was expecting her to say something, but instead she kept staring.
I could see from her eyes that she was inspecting my face.
She seemed to be in awe and said:
"Your smile really is very beautiful. It's pretty. I've never seen one I like more than yours."
"Your face lights up when you smile, and to me it seems like the people around you are glowing too."
"When you smile in any place, it makes that place seem nicer."
"You probably don't even know how beautiful your smile is."
I'm not used to this sort of thing so there was a moment of stunned silence.
Now she's smiling too and tells me, "I fantasize about making you laugh and smile."
"I can imagine your smiling face and even on the worst days it makes me feel better about everything."
"I've never felt the kind of thing I feel when I see you smile."
I didn't know what to do so I continued to smile while she stared.
Then she started to cry.
I was concerned, but she reassured me that everything was OK.
"Your smile is just so wonderful... it makes me cry from looking at it."
I gave in. My body relaxed, I felt weak. I cried a bit and nodded happily.
She leaned in and kissed me. I couldn't move or say anything.
Neither of us had to say anything, though. We both knew how the other felt.
We recognized we were in love without having to say it.
I pulled her close and we continued to sit and enjoy the peace.
I was smiling harder than ever.
If I could pick any moment to live in forever that would be it.

That girl has been my wife for 9 years now.
Each morning when we're together she refers to my waking smile as "the second sunrise".
She still stares at me.
She still tells me stupid jokes. She still makes me cry when we're alone.