The battle was over

We had won

But it came at a price

I am the first to notice

Her sad eyes.

She wavers on her feet

And I begin to worry

Her eyes slide close

Almost too late I realize

She cannot stand on her own

She fell into my arms;

Her body is surprisingly light

And as I look upon her face,

I knew she was resigned to die.

I called her name endlessly

At first she would not answer.

But finally to my relief

Her eyes gradually slid open

And again I am looking

Into her beautiful eyes.

My gaze penetrates hers

An unknown pain fills my being

And I know she can see it on my face

A look I have never seen before

Appears in her eyes.

She struggles to convey

Some message to me.

I want to tell her to save her strength

Instead I discover I can’t speak either

For the lump in my throat

I had never felt so helpless before

I could do nothing but watch;

Slowly her lids close with painful finality

A tear appears on her cheek

As her last breathe leaves;

And I realize

There is a tear upon my cheek as well.