Aphrodite Pt. 12:
Simone’s Notes:
The Latin language has several different verbs corresponding to the English word "love." Amo is the basic verb meaning I love, with the infinitive amare, “to love,” as it still is in Italian today. The Romans used it both in an affectionate sense as well as in a romantic or sexual sense. From this verb come amans—a lover, amator, "professional lover," often with the accessory notion of lechery—and amica, "girlfriend" in the English sense, often being applied euphemistically to a prostitute. The corresponding noun is amor, the significance of this term for the Romans is well illustrated in the fact, that the name of the City, Rome—in Latin: Roma—can be viewed as an anagram for amor, which was used as the secret name of the City in wide circles in ancient times, which is also used in the plural form to indicate love affairs or sexual adventures. This same root also produces amicus—"friend"—and amicitia, "friendship,” often based to mutual advantage, and corresponding sometimes more closely to "indebtedness" or "influence". Cicero wrote a treatise called On Friendship, de Amicitia, which discusses the notion at some length. Ovid wrote a guide to dating called Ars Amatoria, The Art of Love, which addresses, in depth, everything from extramarital affairs to overprotective parents. Latin sometimes uses amare where English would simply say to like. This notion, however, is much more generally expressed in Latin by placere or delectare, which are used more colloquially, the latter used frequently in the love poetry of Catullus. Diligere often has the notion "to be affectionate for," "to esteem," and rarely if ever is used for romantic love. This word would be appropriate to describe the friendship of two men. The corresponding noun diligentia, however, has the meaning of "diligence" or "carefulness," and has little semantic overlap with the verb. Observare is a synonym for diligere; despite the cognate with English, this verb and its corresponding noun, observantia, often denote "esteem" or "affection." Caritas is used in Latin translations of the Christian Bible to mean "charitable love"; this meaning, however, is not found in Classical pagan Roman literature. As it arises from a conflation with a Greek word, there is no corresponding verb.
Jakob and Riza lay in bed at the end of February.
His finger ran along her cheek. “I love you so much.”
Her eyes rest on his. “I love you too.”
His finger touches her lower lip. “I just feel so calm around you.”
“Mmm.” She reached forward and stroked his hair.
It’s a calm night tonight. The chaos took a break for now. He kissed her on the bridge of her nose.
“How’s the baby?”
“She’s doing fine.”
He tilted his head at her. “She?”
“That’s right. I went to the doctor’s office today.”
His hand runs through her hair. “We’re having a girl.”
“Yes.” She kisses his forehead.
“Hey, can we need her Kizzy? It’s after my grandmother.”
“Of course.”
He kisses her on the bridge of her nose. “Thank you.”
The crickets seem so peaceful as well. He closes his eyes.
“I can’t remember having a night like this.”
“What? What about college?”
He shakes his head. “They can be too noise at times.” He smiles, adding, “But they remind me of the times where I can escape and think of you.”
“How is school going?”
“Great; though it can be a bit boring at times.”
She rubs his left cheek. “Why is that?”
“I’m not close to the ones I love.” His thumb moves down her throat. “How is work?”
She sighs aloud. “Hectic. The whole case is getting out of hand.”
He brushes the hair out of her eyes. “Is anything I can do?”
She smiles as she shakes her head. “Nah, you’re doing enough as it is.”
“How is everyone at home?”
“Good. Your sister is getting better.”
“Really?”
She nods at him. “Despite all that’s going on, everyone still manages to go on.”
He looks deep into her eyes. “I could just lay here with you forever.” He notices her trying not to laugh at him. “What?”
She shakes her head at him. “I don’t know whether to find that sweet or cheesy.”
He gazes deeply into her deep red eyes. “I really do love you.”
“I love you too.”
They share a gentle kiss on the lips.
He runs his fingers through her long blonde hair. “You have to go in the morning, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s just enjoy the rest the night together, okay?”
“Alright.”
This time, she kisses him gently on the forehead.