Elise was reciting the last word when she drew her final breath. Her greatest masterpiece is the one my love used the final moments of her life to dictate. She looked like she was sleeping, but her chest no longer rose and fell with the intake of oxygen. I held her and shamelessly sobbed over the loss of the only woman I ever fell in love with. My wife of 57 years.
I called everyone in our lives that I could think of to tell them the news, and each and every one of them were deeply saddened by Elise's passing. I included that she went peacefully, the way she wished it would eventually happen. Madison and her family came to the house to celebrate Elise's life and we ate a big meal in honor of the fact that she never quite learned to cook.
The funeral was big and full of life. A big church with crowded pews and tall skinny windows. There was scattered chatter and a beautiful eulogy. Many close friends came to support Madison and I, and show their love for Elise.
On the outside I looked saddened, but on the inside I was completely and utterly broken. I was getting older and I knew that there wasn't much more of a life for me to live. I walked through the house that Elise and I had lived in for so many years, and memories flashed before my eyes. So many perfect memories. I trudged up the dark stained stairs, felt the smooth railing to the top, stepped into the hallway, and stopped at the second door to the right. The bed was the same chocolate color as it had been since Elise and I got married. I laid down on top of the soft sheets in my stiff, itchy dress thinking about my life. Closing my eyes I fell into a peaceful, endless sleep, and reunited with my beautiful wife.
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14 Days
Short Story*One-Shot* Elise Maud is a 20-year old college student just trying to get by. But when her newfound sister lands on her doorstep, will she risk it all to help her? She only has 14 days to decide.
