Alex never intended to give Mrs. Humphrey such an answer but he felt it was the truest of all answers.
"What do you mean that?" Mrs. Humphrey has never heard anyone refer to his girlfriend or wife as a mate.
"I mean she is my soulmate." Alex decided to use a known word. "She is not just a girl you want to have sex with or let her come in and go out of your life like a breeze. To me, Astrid is the root that can't be undug. I may be sounding like a teenage boy who doesn't even know his right from his right." Alex took a slip before continuing. "Teenager I am alright, being confused about my left and right, maybe. But one thing I am never confused about is my feelings for Astrid. I love you daughter ma'am, and it's as certain as the sun rising from the east and set in the west. It's as certain as the change in life with is constant."
"At a touch of love, everyone becomes a poet." Mrs. Humphrey smiled warmly at the boy.