I saw forever in her eyes, a promise to me that only she could make

"I love you."

"Thank you."

There is no way to explain her, beautiful is only the tip of the iceberg,it was her ability to see beauty in others

"I have a surprise for you!"

"What is it?!"

"You're going to be a Daddy!"

"You're pregnant?  That's wonderful!"

"We're going to be a family.  I love you."

"Good!"

I loved her so much, but never said the words.  When I discoveredshe was pregnant I was overjoyed.  We would have been so happy.

****

Her back was to the ocean, the breeze toying with her summer dress andher hair curling softly around her face.  I walked towards her, joyfilling me.  Her hands held her swollen body, feeling the child thatgrew inside her kick, and I couldn't help but think how pregnancy madeher glow.  God I loved her.

As I neared she smiled, opening her arms to welcome me, love shiningfrom her eyes.  I've always loved her, my best friend, my lover, mywife.  I'll always remember the way her smile faded, the love in hereyes replaced with terror as she looked past me, behind me.  The imageis burned into my brain.

As I turned to see what frightened her so much I heard a noise, a gunshot,a thumbless man with cold eyes from her past pulling the trigger. I never felt the broken shells tear into my bare feet as I ran to her,never heard my own hoarse voice calling her name, never noticed the saltytears that burned tracks down my cheeks.  My only concern was forher.

It all seemed to be in slow motion, the look of surprise and agony onher face as she clutched at the rapidly spreading red blossom on her belly,the way she staggered back, crumpling to the ground a moment later. Soon I was by her side, but it was already to late.  As I watchedblood trickled from her mouth, her body trembling with pain and shock.

"Our baby!" she whispered, knowing it was already dead.  I turnedback, seeking the man who had done this to her, wanting to hurt him, tobeat him within an inch of his life so he would beg me to kill him. But he was already gone, walking away without so much as a backward glance,the job done.

I heard a gasping noise, my dear, dying wife trying to talk to me asher energy left her.  She held up her hand and I grasped it firmly,not ever wanting to let her go.

"I love you...I will always love you!" she cried, a wave of pain wrackingher body.

"Please don't leave me, I need you!" I cried, my own voice hoarse withpain, but it didn't, couldn't help.

Already she was fading before my eyes, the light leaving her as herbody slackened, her eyes unfocusing as she squeezed my hand one final time.

A day doesn't go by that I don't wish she were still here, wish we werestill a family.

"What will we call the baby?"

"Catherine, after your mother."

"Yes, that's beautiful."

"You're beautiful!"

"God I love you!"

"Ditto."

I never found the thumbless man, I never looked.  I knew that ifI found him I would kill him, and she would never have wanted me to bea killer.

"We'll grow old together, you and me."

"We'll always be together."

"I love you."

"As you should!  A wife should always love her husband."

I should've grown old with her, I should've had many children with her,I should've woken up every morning beside her.  I should never havelost her.

"I love you!"

I love you too.
 
 

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