One more...

by Dann Burdette

As I looked up, I noticed her standing in the doorway to my study, beautiful as she had ever been, in my eyes, at least. I knew, though, as well as she, that sometime soon it would all come to an end. She had been sick for months now, and the doctors had said she only had a few left to live, which meant sometime within the next few weeks, she would pass away, and I would be left here in misery for another two or three hundred years. They always told me life wasn't fair when I was a kid, but, of all the ways to end, why must it be like this? Knowing, and waiting patiently for one pain to end and a new one to begin. Granted, we'd both known ever since the Awakening that some day this would come, but knowing that it was coming only made it worse. "Good evening, dear, are you feeling any better?" I asked, already knowing that she wasn't

"I won't lie to you Arik, it is getting worse, by the day even. You and I both know that we'll soon be apart for a long time. Perhaps we should stop worrying so much, and just take what we can get from our time left?" She stated, as matter-of-factly as she always had

"I know, let's go out to the patio, we can relax there, watch the sun set again. That always cheers us both up a bit." I said, standing up and taking her hand, which I noticed was even thinner than I remember it being.

I picked her up, and we floated slowly through the door onto the patio, and set down upon the bed of pillows I kept out there always. "Here", I said, placing a pillow behind her head, as we cuddled together in the same way we had for countless years, watching the sun make its slow decent from the heavens.

"I love you, my dear, no matter where we are, separated by life and death, I'll always love you, and when I finally do go, I'll be watching you from beyond until we can be together again. I will always be with you, even when it seems I am not, I will, remember that, always." She said, huddling against the warmth of my body.

"I love you too, forever, no matter what, even if life has thrown us for a loop, I'll always remember all the great times we had together, all the love we shared, the tears we shed, the moments of pure bliss, everything. I love you more than anything I've ever known, and nothing, not even death can stop that." I whispered into her ears, as if knowing that it was the end

We watched the sun set on the bay, and with it's last ray of light vanishing under the night sky, I felt her body go limp in my arms, I didn't need to panic, to check for a pulse, any of that. I already knew, but at least we spent our last moment together, and happy, I'll always remember that. That night, I went to sleep by her side, crying until there were no more tears to shed. In the morning, I called the morgue, and made the arrangements for her funeral.

It was a beautiful funeral; she would've loved to see it. I put every photo of us together in a nice arrangement on a table in front of the coffin, everyone cried, especially me. I don't think I'll ever quite understand why this sort of thing had to happen to me, but I do know that I'm a better person for having known and loved her.

I knew life wouldn't be the same without her, of course, how could it not, I had been with her for more than sixty years. I expected to spend my life with her, until I died, but then the Awakening came, and changed everything. I, for some reason, maybe it was my fascination with the magical, became, an elf, and according to all the doctors, we have incredible lifespans. She, however, didn't change. From the day I found out, I was heartbroken, I then knew that not only would I outlive her, but by more than a hundred years. At first, I could barely stomach the thought, but eventually, we both got used to it, and lived the rest of our lives savoring every moment we could. I just hope I find another reason to live now that she's gone. My only other friend, Wolfcry, lives far up in the NAN, with her wolves, I'd go stay with her, but I could only stand being that far away from society for so long before I'd snap.

Then, suddenly, one morning, I got an idea. I immediately reached for the phone, and gave Wolfcry a call. "Hey Wolf, it's me, you remember when you promised to give me a hand when things finally ended? Well, I think I'll cash in on that, if you can spare the time."

"Aww, Arik, you should've called me sooner, I didn't realize she had already passed on, how long has it been?" she replied

"It's been a couple of weeks, don't worry, I'm doing fine, I guess. I'm thinking of getting back into shadowrunning, in Seattle of course, would you be willing to come down and give me a hand getting settled in and all?" I asked, hoping for a yes, having not seen her in years

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, I can. I'll leave the pack here, I don't think they'd be too welcome in the city, it'll be great to see you again, just like old times!" She exclaimed

"Yeah, just like old times, it'll be fun, alright, I'll meet you in Kashoun's Bar, in the Barrens, you remember where that is, right?" I asked patiently

"Oh yeah, I remember that place, nice place, hope it hasn't changed much. Alright, well, I've got a few things to do before I go, so I should get off of here and get everything set up, I'll see you in a week, love ya!" She practically yelled, as she hung up

I looked around the house for a minute before finding the few books I needed, my coat, and my stash of rare knives. "Guess I might be needing you guys soon enough." I said, as I threw them in a bag, lifted it over my shoulder, and walked out the door.

"Here's to looking forward, and not back." I said, as I flipped off the lights, closed the door and locked it, for what would be the last time.

"Goodbye dear, I'll see you soon enough"