By Chloe

She invaded his midnight realm once more.

He stared at the ethereal figure before him.

Reluctant tears dared to journey past their usual confinement.

He met her eyes
those eyes
those eyes that could see
could see far past his facade
they saw his naked, vulnerable soul.

Hers only.

His heart ached to reach out
to take her tiny face into his hands
to feel the delicacy of her alabaster skin
once more.

But he dared not.

Barely able to breath he prayed
--If this is a dream--
--then never, never let these eyes fall upon another dawn.

If I am awake, God, please
please
take me now. Take me from this hell.

Let me go
go to her.

Silence ...

But she was still there
and in her eyes he found a peace that had for so long abandoned him.

She glided nearer to him
surrounded by the light of God which engulfed the entire room
their room
they once, briefly,
so lovingly shared.

Slowly
she descended her face, her lips to his right ear
her long golden curls spilled softly
across his chest, which heaved
reflexively
his heart, his breath
stopped.

The whispered words
--I will love you always,
always--
fell from her delicate throat to his ear
so beautiful
melodic.

The phrase echoed over and over in his mind
healing.

She lifted her face to his eyes once more.

As he beheld her radiance
he lost himself in her and remembered.

Remembered their life as it once was-
a dream, so intense, so short,
so taken for granted.

Suddenly fear seized his racing heart
for he knew
he knew this was goodbye.
He could resist no longer
and outstretched his trembling hand
seeking the warmth of her cheek.
Once again, he was too late.

She had retreated into the light
and darkness reconquered the room
their room.

A primal scream of anguish resounded
from his tortured soul.

Suddenly
his eyes flew open
and took in the harsh morning light
that had filtered through the room
their room.

As his eyes advanced skyward
beyond the limits of the ceiling
his weary soul gave way
and he weeped as he uttered a phrase that had been
so distant from his wife�s ears before
before she was taken from him
--I love you, too, Michelle. I love you.