He took my hand and twirled me around like we were on a dance floor, I curtsied and then sat down on the concrete chair gasping for breath. “That’s more exercise than I’ve had in ages.” I laughed, coughed and covered my mouth with my fist.
He wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with a clean white handkerchief, his initials embroidered in baby blue; NEW.
His body popped as he got down on one knee, pulled a small box out of his pocket and opened it. “Do life with me Susie Q?”
I used his arm for leverage to get back on my feet. He moaned as my hand squeezed harder around his frail extremity. Once upright and steady, I reached down and helped him up.
His eyes a cloudy white from cataracts began to well with tears. “Are you turning me down Susie Q?” His voice quivered. I held my wrinkled hand out towards him and showed him my wedding band, still missing the set that fell out three decades ago. “Newton, I didn’t turn you down sixty years ago and I won’t turn you down now you big goof.” We never had children of our own and the rest of the family had long been gone.
“Let me hear you say it. It’s not official until you say it.” His speech slowed.
“I’ll do life with you Newton.” I gently kissed his dry lips. He hobbled over to the rose bush and handed me a beautiful bud on a long stem, he gave me a quick wink. “We’re ready now. You’re just as beautiful today as you were when we first met.” I knew he really felt that way, that made this even harder to do.
His knotted up fingers opened the box and presented me with two little orange pills. He took his out and stuck it under his tongue, shaking from disease. I held mine in my hand and waited for him to drift slowly away. “I love you Newton. I won’t be far behind.” His head fell to the side, he slumped all the way over, his pulse was gone.
I crushed my tablet into the concrete and placed my flower across his lap. I vowed to never break his heart. He so desperately needed to go but I just wasn’t ready.
Leesa Writes 