Moment After Death(Melendaire)

"Come sweet death"

      Death comes to us as a surprise,it may be the loss of a loved one,someone very important to us..leaving an unimaginable pain and grief.

      Melendez lay in bed, his head filled with so many thoughts. Two days ago,he wouldn't have thought his life would be over. He wished he could just close his eyes and this would all be a dream.

     His train of thought was interrupted by footsteps. It was Claire. Stunning, elegant, constantly turning heads wherever she went. He had developed feelings for her but didn't have the courage to express them. She was the strongest, smartest, most courageous woman he had ever known and he didn't know how he was going to leave her all alone.

      She stood there,in all her radiance,with an expression he couldn't quite understand.She walked towards him and sat by the edge of his bed.

      "Neil..",she whispered with so much emotion put in one word..."You saved me",Claire said with tear filled eyes.

   "No,..that was all you".Melendez winced as he felt his life gradually slipping out of his body.He was slowly turning pale and white.

       A single tear dropped down her cheek as she shook her head in opposition,a strong pain in her chest as she looked into his eyes.

       He looks up at her with a sad smile.He really was going to miss her,their time together..the runs,dinners,games and their work relationship.She was a smart and attentive resident with strong opinions which he loved about her.

       Claire was crying now,tears streaming down her face.."I can't lose you,Neil..I just can't.You've been my biggest supporter,a shoulder to lean on,a companion in times of loneliness,a friend..the times when I was sad,you were always there to cheer me up.What will I do now?No one understands me like you do".

      "Claire",he says softly and tilts her chin up.."It'll be alright,you'll be alright".He didn't want to see her sad or cry so he made an attempt to lighten the mood,"You know, you're a terrible bowler,in fact,the worst I've ever seen".

       Claire let out a breathy laugh,for a moment relieving the pain and heartache she felt.

       " I love you",she said with a new found courage,"I love you so much,..so much more than I thought I could ever love someone"..She looked at him for any sort of reaction.

       He smiled brightly at her,his heart overjoyed at hearing those words"I love you too,Claire...so much".

      She sniffled,tears continuing to flow.Her heart fluttered,her mind at peace.She moved closer to him,resting her head on his chest listening to his steady heartbeat.

       They lay there gazing into each other's eyes,their hands entwined and the other,smoothening her hair gently.

        Unspoken words were conveyed in that moment of surreality,in their own world where they could have been,where their love could have blossomed.Perhaps,it wasn't meant to be.

      She would always cherish the moments they had together,sit back and wonder,ask herself"what if?"what if he was still with her?what if they had started a family?Lived in a beautiful house with a garden where their children would play around,grow old together,happy and fulfilled?

       Those we love don't go away,they walk beside us each day,unseen,unheard but always near,still loved and still missed.Death leaves a heartache no one can heal,love leave a memory no one can steal.