They lay, side by side, in the bed
that had held them through a sixty –three year marriage. Sheets threadbare,
blankets thinned by the years. Their skin was tight and dry, stretched over
gnarly, knobby bones. Lines of love and gratitude, regrets and sadness, had carved
ridges in their faces, in the corners of their eyes. The colors had all faded
to bleached grays and dusty browns.
His hand moved slowly, stiffly as
he reached to cup her cheek. A cheek that, to him, was as smooth as it had been
sixty years ago. To her, he was still the slim young soldier. Her prince.
He said, “I’m sorry, honey. I truly
am but I can’t be alone. I have to go first. I just can’t be here without you.”
And with his other hand he squeezed her hand in a shaking, feeble grip.
She said, “Oh, please don’t leave
me. Don’t leave me here alone. What would I do? Who would I take care of? Who’d
take care of me?” And her voice grew strained and crackly. Weak, thin tears
gathered in her eyes and the lines deepened.
He reached out and slowly pulled
her head to his chest. Stroked her thin and wispy hair. After a while he slowly
raised up. The bed and his bones creaking in protest. It took a few tries but
he got up and shuffled across the room. He picked up a bottle of pills and with
slow shuffling slide made his way back to her side.
He held the bottle and looked at
her. Raised his bushy brows. She hesitated but then she smiled and nodded,
once. He started to sit beside her slowly but gravity pulled him down. With a
plop he was there at her side and they shared a little laugh. He reached for
the water by the bed but she took the glass from him. Limping and holding the
wall, she went to the kitchen and poured the stale water in the sink.
It took such effort and such pain
but finally she got the ice from the tray and made a fresh glass of ice water.
It tinkled like bells as she walked down the hall.
She sat the glass on the bedside
table. He had already stretched out on his side of the bed. She slipped off her
shoes and lay beside him. He opened the bottle of pills and carefully divided
them. They shared the water.
He kissed that lovely alabaster
cheek. She closed her eyes and shined.
He said, “I’ll see you soon.”
She said, “You better know it.” And
she smiled and winked.
