Until Death Parts Us

Brea sat down exhausted. She let out a long tired sigh. The days had passed her by. Through the tears and grief the years too had passed her by. She looked up at the wall and choked back the tears that were threatening to fall. "No, not again," she told herself.

She got up and walked over to the mirror. Her silky long blond hair was so thin and ragged. It had lost its luster. It was dull and lifeless, hanging limp around her boney shoulders. It was full of tangles and every hair was split from the end almost to the root. Her shinny blue eyes were flat. They stared back at her blankly almost as if they were unseeing. Pools of tears formed in her eyes as she took herself in. Where were the high heels she'd always worn, the dresses, the skirts, and the fancy blouses? Who was this girl glaring back at her? Surely this was not what she'd become. But sadly it was.

Five years had passed since her husband had died. Their sad family had barely started.  

She stood there in front of the mirror and began to sway back and forth as the memories started to flood the open gate that was her mind.

The violin was playing. She stood there alone. All her friends had been chosen. She was afraid she'd be standing there alone, just waiting. She closed her eyes and blinked back lonely tears. Anxiously she stood there as he walked up to her and held out his hand as he bowed and asked her to dance. Shyly she accepted.

He held on to her so tightly, her head was rested on his shoulder. She inhaled the scent of his cologne. It smelled romantic to her. She could feel his heart pounding through his shirt. It was beating in sync with hers, she thought. He was the most handsome man she'd ever seen. And she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid his eyes upon.

That night on the wharf was the best of Brea's life. She wanted to live in that moment. The stars were shinning for her. The moon bore witness to the love that was forming in her heart, love that she felt only for Kaleb. It was instant and true and she knew it would never fade, that it would last forever.  

Her life was overflowing with romance, each morning she woke to find thousands of roses delicately placed around her room. Lilies, orchids, daisies, every flower she'd ever mentioned she'd wake to find them. Her heart was swelling with love.

Each night brought Kaleb to her door, flowers in hand and a kiss on her lips. He'd sweep her off to some romantic restaurant. He'd write her poetry and sing her love songs.

But the day he strolled down the street with a smile from ear to ear, was indescribable. They dined that night at the most elegant restaurant she'd ever seen. There were rose petals scattered on the floor and sweet music beckoned her to the dance floor where Kaleb whisked her around the room.

During dinner he couldn't keep his eyes off her. When the champagne came they sipped and laughed. Champagne always made Brea giggle. She loved the bubbles. Kaleb loved watching her drink champagne.

"I love you," He said.

"I love you too, Kaleb.

"Close your eyes."

She obeyed.

When she opened her eyes Kaleb was kneeling on the floor beside her chair. She gasped loudly and happy tears fell from her overjoyed eyes. The most beautiful piece of jewelry she'd ever seen was resting delicately in the palm of his hand waiting for her.

"Oh, Kaleb, I love it." He slipped the ring onto her finger. It looked perfect on her, she thought. It was like it was made for her. From that moment it became a part of her. She never took it off.

"Will you marry me?" he asked.

"Yes, of course. I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you, Kaleb. I love you."

She flew into his arms. Where he held her until the lights went out and the room emptied. It was closing time. He led Brea outside where a carriage was waiting. They strolled through the streets until morning's early sun rose.

Their wedding was beautiful. It was perfect. All their friends and family were there. Brea stopped Kaleb's heart when she appeared at the entrance of the church. The white dress caught his breath he stood there stunned as she walked toward him. He could hardly believe this woman; this perfect woman wanted him as much as he wanted her.

Through the vows Brea's tears fell like rain and Kaleb's voice shook from nerves. But she would never have changed a thing.

But here in the present she was alone. There was no life to share. Her beloved was gone. The car accident happened too fast.

Brea had gone to the doctor, that morning where she'd gotten the news. She was pregnant. She planned to tell Kaleb that night. They were on their way to dinner when the car hit the thick patch of ice. Her head hit the dash board; she was thrown back against the seat where she lost consciousness. She woke to find Kaleb covered in blood, it seemed to be pouring from his head. "Kaleb," she'd screamed. She shook him and screamed so loudly. He never responded. The sirens wailed as they made their way down the street.

The exam was quick, she'd lost the baby.

Flowing tears flooded her cheeks as she sat alone in the dimly lit waiting room of the hospital where she waited to hear the news that her love. Her Kaleb had passed. "No," hysterically she'd cried. 

Brea Michael's felt as if her life was over. She'd lost her husband of less than a year, her baby that hadn't even been born yet, all her hopes and dreams ceased to exist at that moment, 5:45 pm. December, 23 1968.

That night she found herself lying in bed with tears she knew would never stop. Years later she found herself in bed with tears that still wouldn't stop falling.

For Brea life was full of tears. She'd roam the house crying, clutching desperately to a picture of she and Kaleb that had been taken on the wedding day. She'd never know her child, and Kaleb's life was over before he'd even known about their baby.

She woke five years later one late December night. It was the 23rd. She crawled out of bed and wandered the darkened house. Everywhere she tuned there were memories that played out in front of her like a movie. It was a life she couldn't bare.

She sank into the chair that Kaleb insisted they buy - a chair that she in fact hated, but agreed to buy because he seemed to love it.

She looked up at the wall; there was a picture of the two of them, a picture that she loved. She choked back a sob that threatened to bring more tears. She picked her heavy shattered heart up off the floor and strode over to the mirror, something she'd avoided for the last five years. New tears fell as she recalled what she'd become. What the loss of her unborn child and her husband had caused her to become. A bony lifeless being, that was what she'd become. Se choked back a hysterical sob.

Brea slowly walked to the bathroom, opened the medicine cabinet, pulled out the sleeping pills and popped them into her mouth.

She was found months later. With no friends or family no one knew she was missing. 

20 years later the house was put up for sale. It was sold to a couple who'd just wed. It was perfect for them. They couldn't wait to move in.

Months after their arrival they found the letters, the poems, and the dried rose petals. Most importantly they'd found the journal that told the story of Brea Michael's life.

The young wife sat in the chair that had belonged to the previous owners and read the sad words Brea had written. It told of how she'd met Kaleb, how they'd fallen in love, and created a baby. The young wife sat there sobbing, feeling as if she were there. It was so vivid she could see it all. A picture was created so perfectly it was like she was living as Brea Michael's. Just as Brea wanted it, she wanted her family to be remembered.

Brea and Kaleb Michaels, their unborn baby found their way into the hearts of millions. The young wife, so fond of the beautiful story written in the tear smeared journals, published them. She published them under the alias Kalebrea, in remembrance of the beloved family that so tragically lost their lives.