Tentatively, she walked, barefoot and covered only in a thin nightgown out into the open where the snow blanketed mother nature in a fluffy, white sheath.
The snow stung like a million icy needles against the bare soles of her feet. The wind, a soft caress, a lover’s touch, against her pale skin. She lay down on the ground, the cold enveloping her, seeping through her pores until it reached her innermost parts. It hurt. But nothing could ever hurt more than losing her soulmate.
The moon backlit the bare, skeletal like trees and she watched how they stretched on for miles. Finally, she turned her head and looked up at the stars and tears began to leak from the corners of her eyes, slowly crawling into her hair. Her lover’s words echo through her mind; If I die, just look up at the stars and you’ll find me. So, she looked, she searched the darkened night sky, peppered with stars, but she could not find him. She still only felt this deep sorrow within her heart. She could still only sob tears of anger and her soul still only felt the emptiness of losing a part of itself.
The stinging cold turned into icy flames licking at her skin but still she refused to stand back up and go inside.
Just as darkness started to cloud over her, she saw him. He looked just as he had before the sickness stole him from her. His face looked full and healthy as he laid down beside her. Looking into his eyes she saw that spark of life he was missing for al those months. His full lips stretched into a wide grin, the one she’d prayed to see every single day as she went into his hospital room. She didn’t question how this could be possible. She didn’t care if she had finally lost her mind, all she cared about was that she was finally seeing him again just as he promised. She looked out into the night sky and here he was. Just like he promised.
“I love you.” She whispered into the snow beside her, where he lay. As her vision began to darken and her limbs began losing sensation, she heard him, I love you more.
With those final words whispered from her lover she let the darkness take her and she went peacefully.
The next morning Sam woke up when the birds started singing. The sun had barely risen, but he was used to being up this early. With his father having passed a month or so back, he was now responsible for all the chores on their family farm. After dressing in the appropriate attire for the below freezing weather, Sam went out to the kitchen.
Odd, he thought. His mother was usually up and about before him, having breakfast set for the two of them. He thought nothing of it. Maybe she was having a tough time this morning.
He went to her room and found the door open, but she was not in bed. He looked to his left and saw the bathroom door was also open and still, his mother was nowhere in sight. Sam was starting to panic now. He went back to the kitchen and then he saw it. A note sat on the kitchen table in his mother’s handwriting.
He picked up the note and read it.
My dearest Sam,
I have tried these last weeks, but I can not find it inside myself to go on without your father. He was my rock, my safe place, my soulmate. He has been with me since my 16th birthday and we have never been apart more than a few days since then. Forty years together, and now I must live the rest of my life without him. It is unfair that, that is being expected of me.
I love you my son, and I can only hope that you will also find a love like the one me and your father had. Now you can go out into the world and find it.
I have gone to be with your father again. I missed him too much. I hope you can understand that.
Much love,
Your mother.