To the one I have yet to meet,

Today, I found myself in the kitchen, surrounded by the scent of garlic, onions, and beef simmering in a pot. The ingredients of something familiar, something comforting. As the beef caldereta cooked, I couldn’t help but think of you. I imagined the day when we would sit together, the warm bowl of food between us, and I’d finally get to ask you to eat with me.

Cooking, in its own way, is a kind of waiting. Each ingredient, each stir of the pot, brings us closer to something wonderful. Just like this dish, I know that love takes time. The right moments to simmer, the right space to grow. It might start with a little heat and a few rough edges, but with patience, it will become something rich and full of flavor. I can almost taste it now. The warmth of the stew, the richness of the sauce, and the tenderness of the beef. And I think of how, one day, we’ll share it together in the quiet comfort of our own kitchen.

I imagine you sitting across from me, laughing about how much garlic I used or teasing me about the perfect balance of spice. And we’ll share more than just food. We’ll share the ease of being together, the kind of moments that feel like home.

As I stir the pot, I remember a line from The Notebook, where Noah says, “It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be really hard; we’re going to have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you.” This, too, is the essence of love. Something to be nurtured, worked on, and shared. Just as I’m cooking now, I know our love will require patience, but it will be worth every bit of effort.

Until that day comes, I’ll keep cooking, and with each dish, I’ll dream of the one I’ll get to share it with. I’ll keep savoring the quiet joy of cooking alone, knowing that soon, it won’t be alone anymore.

And when the time comes, when I can finally ask you to sit with me, I hope it’s not just the flavors of the caldereta that we savor, but the comfort of knowing that we’ve found each other.

With all the love I have yet to give,
W