| Board : | |
| Author : | |
| Subject : | |
| Date : | |
|
From the warmth of my bed I gaze out the window. The rising sun is casting a cheery glow on the earth and through my panes. I smile. There has not been much to smile about recently. I contracted the dreaded disease some months ago and it has been weakening my body ever since. Just to turn my head takes concentration but it is worth it to see the rosy tint of dawn. A nest of birds is just out my window. Daily I have been watching the male and female as they ready for their young to hatch. It is a comforting sight. It shouldn't be too long now. Birds are such free, beautiful creatures and these two seem to have a genuine affection for each other. My wife comes in. She is a good woman who has stood by me throughout all this. I hope she fares well when I am gone. I am dying. My body has been telling me this with every movement and every pain. I watch her fuss about me, trying to get me to eat for I have not eaten well in days. I have accepted my fate but I know she will miss me. I am all she has. I have tried to provide her with a happy life, good food and a comfortable house over her head. We've shared good times, fun times. Thinking about them makes me grin again as I watch her. She catches my smile, laughs and shakes her head. "I love you, old man" she says and I know she means it. I love her too. We had bad times as well. Our son was killed in battle when he was young. A storm raged the town destroying our home that took us both so long to build. We were always there to support each other, to help each of us through the bad times. "Eat- You like this!" she says, trying to coax me to eat again. Smiling still, I look at her. She stops and takes my hands looking deeply into my eyes. She won't accept what destiny has in store. I see a tear form on her wrinkled cheek. She turns her face quickly thinking I won't catch it. "Oh look, one of the eggs has hatched." She points out. With difficulty, I turn my head again to watch the nest. It's true. One of the three eggs is broken around a tiny beak. I squeeze her hands and utter hoarsely, "It is time." Her tears begin to fall and she drops to my wretched body, not wanting to let me go. I close my eyes and feel her embrace for the last time, reveling in her love. She raises herself up and kisses me lightly on the lips. At her touch, I can feel the life leave my body as blessed peace overcomes me at last. Is this death? My soul seems to lift itself in the darkness. I can still feel but I cannot see. It's as if I'm in a void. Where is my wife? Is she still there? I feel myself being pulled toward something, a destination. I lose myself in the warmth and the darkness until I feel free and young again. I start to tap at the wall around me. As she watched her husband fade from life, she heard the chatter of the birds again. Making herself walk to the window, tears still streaming down from her face, she gets as close to the nest as possible. Even in her despair at his death, she marvels at the miracle of life. Her heart fills with wonder as the third baby bird cracks through his shell. Free at last. <>Ligeia | |