John Barnes, seated in his recliner surveyed the small apartment. It was simply furnished and devoid of any holiday decorations except for the wreath that was hanging on the door. It was December, the start of the holiday season but to the old man it brought no joy. Once again, he would be alone, his wish unfulfilled. While he sat slumped in his chair the longing that was just below the surfaced rose once again and his thoughts began to wander.
They drifted making their way back to memories from long ago. Settling on one, it was of a young woman sitting on the beach smiling up at him with the greenest eyes he had ever seen. Her deep auburn hair cascaded around her shoulders in gentle waves as a slight breeze tried to tease strands from the pins holding it in place behind her ears. He could feel the warmth that resonated from her smile. When that image faded it was replaced by another. This time the young woman was walking down the aisle on their wedding day.
He remembered the first time he had laid eyes on Mary. She was working at the perfume counter in a department store. His brother had wanted to buy perfume for his girlfriend and had asked John to go along.
“Perfume!” John had exclaimed, “I don’t want to go shopping for perfume!”
“Aww come on”, His brother begged, “I feel awkward going by myself.”
“Then why go?”
“Because she loves perfume.” His brother said exaggerating each word while rolling his eyes. John laughed and realized that his brother was in love for the first time. Tim waited anxiously for his reply. “Well, what are you standing there for? Come on, let’s get this lady of yours some perfume.”
Tim beamed and silly as he had thought it was at the time, he reflected on how such a small gesture had meant so much to his brother. Of course, he had met Mary and that had been the highlight of the day. He remembered how they all laughed at the counter. Mary spraying Tim with perfume, Tim sniffing his wrist and people passing by who just so happened to catch a whiff of all those samples wafting in the air, pinched their noses and quickly walked on.
If it hadn’t been for Tim that day, he would never had met his Mary. He closed his eyes and felt the same old familiar ache in his chest. His eyes filled with unshed tears as the pain of her absence echoed in the room. They had been married for over fifty years he and Mary. It had been a good life until she had passed away a few years ago.
A knock sounded on the apartment door. Maddie, an aide at the senior living, had been true to her word. The sound of carolers was wafting through the halls.
“Mr. Barns? May I come in?” He didn’t answer. As the door silently opened it brought the sound of Christmas carols. Maddie was sporting a great big smile. “You really should come out and listen.” She waited expectantly but gave a little sigh of resignation when Mr. Barnes slowly shook his head. “Okay, but I’ll be back later with eggnog.”
After she left John repositioned himself in his chair. Closing his eyes, he listened to the distant singing of the carolers. After a time, the sound of the singing became silent as he drifted off.
He could see her. She was standing a little distance from him. However, there was no mistaking it was her. She was surrounded by a fine mist that seemed to shimmer in the light, but there she was, just like when he’d first laid eyes on her. She just stood there, a smile lighting her beautiful face. Staring, he was overcome with emotion.
A few heartbeats passed when he began to wonder where he was. Taking his eyes away from Mary he noticed a babbling brook that separated them. It gently flowed over and around all the smooth river stones that peeked up from the water. Mary stood on the opposite bank, her hands loosely clasped in front of her as she smiled.
Maddie came back as promised with the eggnog. After letting herself in, she quietly approached thinking Mr. Barnes was asleep. Putting the eggnog down on the table beside his chair she said, “Mr. Barns?” With no response, she lightly touched him and discovered is skin was cool. She felt his chest and realized he was barely breathing. “Oh my!” Maddie exclaimed quickly leaving the room only to return minutes later with the nurse.
Regarding the crumpled figure in the chair Maddie thoughts raced. What if he was dying? What if his family couldn’t get there in time? What if he was all alone? That would be awful! At that last thought she resolutely made a decision. “It’s okay.” She said as she gave him a heartfelt hug. “You’re not alone, I’m here.”
John was vaguely aware of being hugged because he was more than aware that he had lost his connection to Mary. Maybe I’m waking up. Yet, he distantly heard a voice saying , “It’s okay.” Confused, he had no idea of what was happening and he was much too tired to ask. Languishing in the peace that had suddenly surrounded him he drifted a bit further away hearing only the faintest of muffled voices.
“We’re going to let him be.” The nurse gently told Maddie.
He drifted again into a comfortable void before opening his eyes. There she was again, still standing on the other side of the brook. Mary! He silently watched her every movement until she beckoned to him. Then he noticed a footbridge that hadn’t been there before.
His heart surged and without a moment’s hesitation he slowly made his way to the bridge. Placing his hand on the railing he felt a surge like no other shoot through his body. Quickly releasing it as if he had been burnt, he looked down at his hand. But to his amazement he stared at strong youthful fingers. After a thorough examination of his hands he looked at his arms, then his legs and finally he lifted his shirt and looked at his stomach. To his astonishment he was younger.
Bewildered but totally delighted by it all, he barked out a laugh as his caught Mary’s eye. In that briefest of moments time froze. Then her sweet smile widened before she held her hand out. John raced over the bridge. When he reached her he scooped her up in his arms twirling her around before setting her down.
“I missed you.“ He professed staring into the depths of her eyes.
“I missed you too.” She answered holding his face between her hands.
“Is this real?”
Mary nodded. “Then I’m…” Mary put a finger to his lips to stop him. His grin widened. Moving slightly away Mary took his hand and asked simply, “Ready?”
He turned and looked back. The foot bridge had magically disappeared and the opposite bank was nothing more than a hazy mist. Turning his attention again to Mary he nodded and said. “I’m ready.”
Maddie sat with Mr. Barns as his breathing continued to slow. But just before he slipped from this world into the next, Maddie heard him say, “Mary?”
She stayed with him a few minutes more before leaving. As she did she took one more look at him and smiled. Mr. Barns would be getting his wish this year after all.
The End.
©2017DianeLewis All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2023 Diane Lewis Psychic Medium - All Rights Reserved.
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