As I sit in a chair next to Theo's hospital bed, he grasps my hand tightly. He's recently suffered a heart attack & he's dying right here in front of me. They got his heartbeat to start beating somewhat regularly again, but he's not strong enough to keep going. I don't understand it because he's the strongest man I know, & I don't know if I can go on without him.
"Katie," he says weakly.
"I'm here babe," I say. Even though we're 85 years old, we haven't stopped calling each other baby.
"I love you, you know that?" He smiles.
"I know," I smile back.
"Good. Never forget that," he's quiet for a few moments & then turns to me one last time, "I'll see you soon."
"See you soon," I say even though I want to shake him & tell him not to leave me. That he's strong & can make it through this. That he's going to come home with me & we're going to live ten more years & twenty after that. But I know that's not going to happen as he takes his last breath.
The nurses come rushing in to make sure everythings okay, & they try to get me to leave, but I scream at them, "Leave me alone!"
They do for a while as I cry & stare at Theo. Everything about him is so peaceful, & I'm glad he's at peace.
"Wait for me," I whisper to him before I leave.
At the funeral, I sit in a chair next to his casket. People are coming up to me saying what a great man he was & that he's at peace now. But I can't help but think I want to join him. I just drown everything out & just sit there with a blank face. When the minster comes up to say a few words, I don't move to the chair I'm supposed to. I just stay seated in this seat, & look at my feet.
After the funeral, the kids all drive me home. Julianne & Dylan are still together. Lauren ended up marrying a man Ryan a few years after. They help me into the house, & they say that they'll stay here & watch over me.
"No," I say when they tell me. "I want to be alone."
"Mom, you shouldn't be alone tonight," Julianne says.
"I don't care!" I shout. "I want to be alone & if you don't leave I'll call the police."
They all look at each other, & Dylan speaks, "Aunt Kate, you shouldn't be alone tonight."
"I don't care!" I hiss. I keep repeating this until they finally leave. I make sure they pull out of the driveway before I head to our bedroom. I lay down on the bed & pull Theo's pillow to my body. It smells like him, & his manly soap smell. I cry & I don't know how long I cry until I hear a crinkle.
At first I ignore it, thinking it's the wind, but then I hear it again & look over. There's a white piece of paper on the floor that wasn't there when I came in. I pick it up, & open it. It's a note from Theo.
My dearest wife Katie,
If you are reading this, then I have passed over. I don't want you to be sad that I have died, but to be happy that I'm at peace.
I didn't want to leave you, & you know that.
I want you to remember all of the memories we have together, good & bad because you can't have good without bad. I want you to smile like you did on our wedding day when you do. I want you to laugh like you did when I used to tickle you. I want you to be happy that we met & that we've had 82 long years together.
I will be waiting for you when it is your time, because heaven isn't heaven without you.
I love you & our infinity isn't over.
YOU ARE READING
Teenage Love
FanfictionKatie is a normal teenage girl. She doesn't think she's all that pretty. She has straight blonde hair & wears glasses when she's not wearing contacts. She's likes to read books & spends most of her time on the library or in church volunteering. She'...
