Today is the first anniversary of my sweetheart's death. I woke at 3 a.m., about the time he died last year. 

We wrote thousands of texts to each other. This is one from Chris I found today -- I'd forgotten about it -- it made me happy:

"When I was in grade school, we got paper report cards. They were standardized, probably across the country. I had to bring it home and get it signed by a parent. Usually the math and reading part was good. It was the behavior part always seemed to be 'unsatisfactory.' In particular 'refrains from disturbing others.' I loved to make my friends laugh, and was a class clown. Unfortunately, I also had a disrespect for authority. Your bad boy had an early start."

Yes, my bad boy forever. My partner, my love.

RIP, Christopher Dean Hartman