She was so very tired, her body weak, each breath softer than the one before. But her eyes still held the same spark that had captured his heart all those years ago.
When he stood to call the doctor, she stopped him with a faint whisper.
“Don’t call. I just want to fall asleep peacefully with your hand in mine.”
So he sat back down, their fingers gently woven together, and began to talk. He didn’t speak of sickness or fear. He spoke of their life. The first time they met. Their shy first kiss. The laughter that filled their home. The ordinary days that became extraordinary simply because they shared them.
Even in her exhaustion, she smiled. And as her strength slipped away, she whispered once more, “I love you forever.”
He kissed her forehead and answered softly, “I love you forever.”
Her hand never let go of his. Slowly and peacefully she closed her eyes, carrying his love with her until her final breath.
In the quiet that followed, he realized the truth with aching clarity. Careers, money, possessions… they all stay behind. Only love endures.