A crisp winter wind blew through the barren trees, scattering the last leaves of autumn on the frozen earth. Her cane clicked on the limestone screening, crunch, crunch, crunch. Tom would have loved the weather. Tom had loved the weather. But now Tom was gone and Trinity was all alone. It was the first time in fifty-three years that she had not felt the tug of Tom’s emotions, as if connected to hers by a string. The string was now cut. Trinity felt so alone. Tom used to love this park. She thought as she walked down the path.
She had wanted to relive some of their memories before she forgot them; biking as newlyweds, Tom throwing the stick for Sadie, their sweet border collie. Kelsey, confessing that she was getting married to a boy they hated at age 18, and Kelsey telling them about her separation from him two years later. She remembered Toms walks getting slower and slower as the cancer ate away at his bones. A year ago today, Trinity thought, he told me to kill him.
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“Wow, the sun is really beautiful today.” Trinity sighed as she gazed across the prairie at dawn.
“Truly is.” Tom agreed. His breath came in huffs as he tried to catch it.
“How are you doing?” Trin asked, placing her hand gently on his back.
“Ug.” He coughed. “Yeah, let’s sit down.” Tom led Trinity to a bench and they sat. “You know I’m dying.” He said to her and she felt as if her insides were being squeezed to the point of bursting.
“Yes” It was a whisper.
“If I ever get to the point where I can’t move to kiss you, pull the plug.” He emphasized his point with a peck on the cheek.
“Tom! Do you realize what you are asking of me?” Trinity jumped up, making her old bones creek in protest.
“Yes. I’m asking you to kill me.” He took her hand and drew her back down. Trinity came easily. “For me.” She nodded. If she had to, she would. Tom laughed to lighten the mood. “Good. We need a code word…” He looked at her lovingly. “The sun is rising.”
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Trinity thought about how Tom’s condition worsened and he was hospitalized less than a week after that walk. She remembered how she had visited him every day, hardly leaving his side. She stayed by him until the day he could no longer kiss her. He looked her in the eyes and whispered to her. “The sun is rising.”
Tears filled Trinity’s eyes as she nodded and walked forward, turning off life support and watching Tom die in her arms.
She had only done it because it was Tom’s wish, the one thing he had ever asked her to do in 52 years of marriage. She had to do it. But now, remembering him, she could only think of how she missed him, hoping that she would join him again soon.
