"I Wait"

    I left you on the beach sleeping while I went for a swim in the ocean. When I came out to the water's edge, I saw you sitting watching me. I stopped, looking at you as the morning sun passed across your face. I could see the light of God shining upon you. I dropped to my knees and began to cry. I had never seen you more beautiful than that morning, in the light of the Sun. You came to me, getting upon your knees, asking if I was alright. I couldn't answer you. I felt I wasn't worthy of your beauty, of your love. But you assured me of your love.

    We lived each day of the summer, sharing our love, sharing all with one another. Believing we had forever.  Finding new things to share each day. Things that no one knew were even there. You found them and gave them to me to hold. They were you, everything was you.

    You came to me one day in our wonderful life and said you didn't feel well. I took you to the Doctor, he told me to take you on to the hospital, he said he would meet us there. He ordered tests and then more test. We were there one day, then three, and on the seventh day, your face became Ashen in its look. It was as if you were losing the morning sunlight across your face. On that seventh day you left me, you left everything you loved.    

    Little did we know that morning on the beach, you would be with God before the summers end, and I would be left to sit alone on your beach like a Spartan waiting, guarding your sand, your sun, waiting for the moment of your return to me.  

Reviews

[Kelly Scheppers]

It's hard to imagine, when you're married, which spouse will be the one left behind. Although it's inevitable, it's not a topic I would choose to discuss. The way in which you described yourself as a "spartan", guarding her sand and sun, awaiting for the time you would be reunited, I found to be most comforting, and quite beautiful. Our time upon this earth is ever fleeting, and no other place brings that more into focus, than the ocean rushing to the shore, time and time again. Thank you for the read. Glad to have met you, Randall!

[Randall]

Thank you, Kelly. It is hard to imagine losing anyone you love. But especially your spouse. Losing a loved one shouldn't end your life, that's not what the lost loved one would want.
You go on, holding the waiting in your heart.
It's nice to meet you. I can hear the calling of Cadences from the Grinder.
Semper Fidelis.. Randall...

[Curly Grace]

A quiet, tender piece...full of sunlight, love, and the ache of losing what felt eternal. The final image of waiting on the beach like a guardian is especially moving.

[Betty Hermelee]

Beautifully written love story brimming with faith and spirit...in the light of the sun..so many vivid phrases of color and the love and wrath of God... a sad ending, yet faith and spirit come through so strongly...nice!!!
Warmly, B

[Randall]

Betty, thank you. Writing about the death of someone you love is perhaps one of the hardest things one can do. Growing up in a small university town, there was a newsstand run by a man and his wife, Les and Ruth Johnson. He also ran the Western Union messaging for the area. I remember him sitting by the front window, typing on his teletype machine. He always kept a white handkerchief on top of his machine. I'm sure I know now the reason he kept that white handkerchief with him. To wipe away the tears while writing those messages of death to loved ones.

Randall...

[Betty Hermelee]

you are very welcome Randall
Warmly, B

[Thomas W Case]

This hurts in the honest places—love rendered sacred, then taken without mercy.
You didn’t sentimentalize the loss; you stood guard over it, like someone who loved all the way through.

[Randall]

Thank you, Thomas. It is sometimes hard to figure out a way to write a piece without becoming the victim. And stay the course of love.

Randall...

[Randall]

Thank you, Thomas. It is sometimes hard to figure out a way to write a piece without becoming the victim. And stay the course of love.

Randall...