For the past four days I held your hand at St Mary's Hospital, watching you drift in and out of sleep, placed on comfort level. The doctor's and specialist's had done all that was possible, they told me. But the Cancer cells had spread every where and
we cried in each other's arms. We cried tears of happiness for all the memories we have shared. We walked the same path and we always remained best friends.
We cried tears of sadness because you were leaving without me. But I knew you would wait for me at the gates of heaven. I couldn't leave your side, I could not go home, I couldn't eat. My heart ached as did yours yet we became each other's strength. When you would awaken, you'd look down and see my weary smile. And
if I awakened, and looked up, I would look into love swept eyes.
It was during a moment when I had dozed off that you squeezed my hand. I looked up and said, "I'm sorry hun", and you softly said, "It's okay". "It's time for me to go darling, for I can see the stairway to heaven. There's an angel smiling beside me
telling me it's time to go home. "I couldn't leave without first saying good-bye to you darling. You made my time on earth the happiest and my tears now, are tears of joy".
"For when it's your turn to join me in heaven, I promise to be waiting. I'll be the one waving excitedly and the first to welcome you to heaven". Your grip on my hand weakened and I heard you ask for one last kiss. I stood up, trembling as I leaned over and shared our last kiss. You smiled and whispered "I love you", and slowly closed your eyes. Life will never be the same for me for no one will ever love me as you did.
© 2003 Raymond Brown (All rights reserved)