Eternity

This wasn’t the way things were supposed to end.

They had promised each other that; no matter what happened, they would stick it out together.

Countless battles were won.

Responsibilities were shared.

They strove to keep things fair and balanced for each other – helping each other shoulder the burdens when things got too rough.

They had cried together

They had laughed together

They kissed

They fought

They made up & worked things out

They kissed again

Sleepless nights were endured together – sometimes consciously, sometimes unknowingly.

They scratched & clawed and worked tirelessly to build their life together.

It wasn’t easy

In fact it would have been so much easier to just let the rest of the world have its way with them.

Family, friends, religion, governments, work, the zombified cashier at the local burger shop, the annoying brat next door who always played his music a bit too loud, the chubby supervisor from the department store who just HAS to come say “Hi” and stick her nose into your business, Hell - even the damned dog who refused to stay off the couch! – It was amazing how many different people, things, places, laws, or circumstances had tried to tear them apart.

Really, it probably would have been the most logical thing to do – to just walk away from each other and never look back. Certainly, it would have been less painful and draining than at least even half of the ‘shit show’ they had to endure together.

But that’s the thing about love – it doesn’t give a flying fuck about what anything or anyone else has to say about it.

There were moments, in the past when things were still new, that they tried to walk away from each other.

It was like ripping your soul out and letting the demons ravage your body – unbearable. Nothing could have ever felt more unnatural, more WRONG than trying to forget each other. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, everywhere they went the universe would have a way of screaming at them to go find each other.

In the end though, they ALWAYS came back together.

Their love was too strong to live without – so they did what they had to do.

It wasn’t easy forsaking their respective homes, families, friends, or hometowns.

For a long time, they were all the other person had.

But in time, things got easier.

They built a small home together – with a small garden to ‘get away from it all’

They made lots of new friends who adored them and welcomed them into their homes and lives like family.

They even ended up bringing home a few furry ‘forever friends’ of the feline and canine variety.

Then – the greatest news of all!

A baby!

It was supposed to be impossible for them, but somehow things had worked in their favour – or so it seemed.

Nobody ever tells you how painful it is to lose someone you never even had the chance to meet. How do you mourn them?

Nobody ever bothers to explain how important it is to stay with your life partner when their world has come crumbling down.

Much less do they speak of the absolute, gut wrenching moment when you have to come home from work to find the cold, lifeless form of your lover.

The note on the counter is barely legible when your tears keep smudging the ink.

Your heart, somehow, is beating frantically – throbbing pulses echoing in your ears & temples, even though you can feel yourself dying.

You’ve endured everything together – it can’t be like this.

It can’t end like this

There were enough pills left on the ground for you to follow after your love – swallowing them all in one go with a glass of water is easier than expected.

You crawl beside your beloved and hold them close to you – secretly hoping that somehow their arms will wrap around you, that warmth will envelop you, that you will see color rush to that face you have kissed countless times, and that all this was just some terrible nightmare.

‘It wasn’t supposed to end like this…’ you whisper to deaf ears

It’s a little unsettling how quickly an unnatural sleep can kick in.

‘please…wait for me…I love you’

darkness gives way to light

And there they are – smiling tenderly at you once again, a baby in arm.

‘Forever is ours now.’