Member Poem

I remember her hand on my cheek
It was cold
A balmy August night, 83 degrees
Sitting on her porch, watching the sunset
She was wiping a tear from my face
She had such gentle hands
They matched her heart
But that physical chill was unsettling
She asked
Have you ever thought of running way?
A thousand times over, I replied
This place has only held pain for me
She queried, where would you go
If we had two tickets to paradise?
With no hesitation, I said
Wherever you wanted
She smiled
It wasn’t a happy smile
But the luminescence of knowing
She whispered, you’re beautiful, you know
And she touched my cheek again
She was colder now
I asked, if she wanted to go inside.
Just sit here with me
Followed by the deepest sigh
Let’s leave tonight, I said
Far from Indiana, some place by the ocean
And if we don’t find happiness there
We can chase the wind and the moon
Pursuing our oasis
Again she smiled, Let’s sleep on it, she replied
And then, she asked me to look her in the eyes
Do you know that you’ve always been my oasis?
I couldn’t restrain my tears
She raised both hands to my face
So cold now I remember thinking
They might freeze in place
She continued, I would not have made it
Wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for you
Please, I begged, let’s just go.
Pick me up tomorrow at sunrise then.
She stood and placed a kiss on my forehead
I love you, she said and went inside
-
I didn’t sleep, watching the clock
At 6am, I packed a bag and dressed
6:54am, the sun just beginning to peek over the clouds
Knocking on her door
No reply
I opened the screen, a note fell to the ground
“pick me up here”
An address
I rushed to the location
Storm’s Funeral Home
I knocked on the door
A man greeted me
She’s ready and waiting
He led me down the corridor
Second room on the right
I’ll give you a moment
She was dressed in a pale yellow dress
She loved dressed
On her feet, green converse high tops
She wasn’t a heels kind of girl
I said, “it looks like you’re ready for adventure”
I took her hand
Colder now than last night’s touches
“we need to get you warm
The ocean it is”
She just smiled, almost a grin
The man came back and asked if I was ready
“yes, it’s time to go.”
He pushed her body slowly into the crematory chamber
It didn’t take long
He handed her to me in a small wooden box
“you finally took my advice to pack light”
I walked out the door to my car
“Look out California, here we come
Ready my love?
Let’s get you warm”