The Bucket List

I let my eyes slide shut slowly, holding on for dear life- literally- to him. I feel his hands run up and down my spine once more, and his quiet, muffled sniffle.

"You'll remember me.. right?" I ask. My voice sounds rough- like someone scraped out the walls of my throat with sand paper.

His lips move along the side of my head gently as he nods. I feel soft, wet taps on my bare shoulder; his tears. "Without a doubt, sweetheart." he whispers.

"I love you." I whisper.

"I love you too," he chokes out as my fingers and toes go numb- the life literally leeching from my body. "I always will, baby. Forever and always." he traces small patterns into my arm as the machine picks up next to us, beeping faster and faster.

And in that moment.. I felt like I could take a deep breath, and finally let go of my excruciatingly beautiful life.

And that's exactly what I did.