My Darling, Evelyn.

You've always been the meaning of my life

The sound of the waves has always been a lullaby, a gentle reminder of the ebb and flow of time. I can feel the warmth of the sun on my face, filtered through the sheer curtains that billow softly with the sea breeze. Our small house by the beach, painted in soft whites and blues, has been our sanctuary for years. It's where we came to heal, to laugh, and to love.

I can hear her in the kitchen, humming an old Billie holiday song, the same one she used to sing when we were young and foolish, dancing in the kitchen of our New York apartments. Back then, the world was against us, but we held onto each other, defying everything. Now, after all these years, she's still here, my Evelyn, with the same fierce love in her heart.

"Are you comfortable, mi amor?" Her voice is soft, but there's a firmness in it, like she's holding back all the worries she doesn't want me to see. I turn my head to her, my breath shallow but steady, and I see her standing in the doorway, a tray in her hands. She's aged like me, her face now etched with the lines of time, was still the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

"Yes, my darling" I manage to say with a smile. It takes more effort now, but I want her to see that I'm still fighting, still here with her.

She sets the tray down on the small table beside me. Fresh fruit, some bread, and a cup of tea. Simple things, but each one made with care, with love. Evelyn kneels beside me, her hand brushing a strand of hair from my face. Her touch is gentle, the way it's always been, but there's a weight to it now, a knowing.

"Do you remember the first time we came here?" she asks, her eyes searching mine.

I nod slowly. "How could I forget? You were so excited, running into the water like a child. I thought you were mad."

She laughs, a sound that fills the room with life. "And you, standing there with your hands on your hips, trying to pretend you didn't want to join me."

"I didn't want to ruin my shoes," I tease, though we both know it was never about the shoes. It was about the fear of letting go, of giving in to the happiness that seemed too fragile to last.

But it did last. Through the hardships, the losses, the years when it felt like the world was too heavy to bear. We held each other through it all, and now, at the end, she's still holding me.

"I've been thinking," Evelyn says, her voice quieter now, as if she's unsure whether to say the words. "About how lucky I am. How lucky we are. Not everyone gets this, you know? A love that lasts a lifetime. I know we took our time getting to this place but I've never loved you more"

I reach for her hand, my fingers trembling slightly as I hold onto her. "We made our own luck, sweetheart. We fought for this, and I wouldn't trade a single moment."

Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, and she squeezes my hand, her grip firm and sure. "Neither would I."

We sit in silence for a while, the only sound the rhythmic crash of the waves against the shore. I close my eyes, letting the peace of the moment wash over me. I can feel the tiredness deep in my bones, a weariness that I know won't be shaken off this time. But I'm not afraid. Not with her here beside me.

"Evelyn" I whisper, my voice barely audible now. She leans in closer, her ear near my lips so she can hear me. "I just want to say-"

"No, we aren't doing this Celia" Evelyn interrupts, her voice shaky.

"Please, I just want to remind you one more time" I plead

Evelyn places her head on my shoulder, I could feel her heart beating fast.

"Evelyn, I have loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. My heart aches when I think about the time we were apart, you're the only thing on this planet worth worshipping. I have never, and will never stop loving you Evelyn, you have my heart."

I can feel her head nod. Tears are slipping down her cheeks now, but there's a smile on her lips.

"It's always been you Celia" She whispers

I smile, a sense of contentment settling in my chest. The sea has always been our refuge, a place where everything else faded away and it was just the two of us. And when the time comes, I know we will find each other again, as we always have.

As I drift off to sleep, I can still feel her hand in mine, her presence a comforting anchor in the ebbing tide of my life. The sound of the waves becomes distant, almost like a memory, but it's a good one. The best one. Because it's ours.