In the Light of the Morning

(This is a story I wrote for a class. I recommend listening to the song "Morning Light" by Sean Beeson while reading this.)

The time had come. He could feel the nervousness building in his stomach as he slipped behind the wheel of his red Ford truck. A bouquet of flowers lay beside him in the passenger seat, red roses with small white patches of Queen Anne's Lace mixed in. They're her favorite, he couldn't help but think as he flipped the key in the ignition. The engine started with a quiet purr and he pulled out of his driveway and onto the main road.

A slight rain began to fall from the sky, hitting gently on his windshield like tears. He switched on his wipers and each droplet was wiped away as it fell upon the glass. Horns honked around him in the mid-day traffic but they fell upon his deaf ears. All he could think about was her...his Sophia.

She was a beautiful woman. He pulled a picture of her he kept in pocket all the time. Long and lean, with cascades of red hair flowing to the middle of her back. Sharp green eyes made softer with little makeup to outline her gentler features. A long flowing blue dress made her pale skin seem to gleam in the photo. Her lips were stretched into a wide smile and she was laughing, eyes halfway closed, caught in mid-laugh. He couldn't help but smile at her as tears came to his eyes at the sight of her. She was so beautiful...

Through the city he drove silent and stoic. It took him around two hours but eventually he made it to the other side where he could begin to drive in moderate peace. Another hour of driving in a gentle drizzle and he pulled up on an off ramp and turned right up another smaller road that wound up around a small patch of trees. Soon he had reached where she lay waiting for him, smiling he imagined, waiting for him to come greet her with a kiss.

He stepped out of his truck, holding the bouquet in his hands. He felt his grip tightening slightly as he stepped towards her. Amidst all the others he only had eyes for her and for the little one beside her. He knelt in the grass and finally the tears he had held back for so long began to run down the sides of his face.

Her grave was simple yet elegant. It was made of a white stone that nearly perfectly matched the color of her skin in the photograph. It had a small rose engraved at its top; her favorite flower. In the front it read:

Sophia Anna Dreidmont
"Taken early but never forgotten."
September 24th 1978-January 12th 2014

He felt his sorrow wash over him. It was like all the anger and unfairness he felt when she had passed had finally fallen completely on his shoulders, smashing into him like a waterfall might have. The weight was heavy on his thoughts, like someone who chains a rock to his ankle and sinks down into the dark abyss of the ocean. His hand reached out and stroked the grave tenderly like it was her own face, his lips brushing the stone in a gentle kiss. He laid the flowers gently in front of her grave but kept one for himself.

He knelt there for what felt like hours but was probably only ten minutes. He couldn't get the image of her out of his head. Soon the sun slowly rose behind him, casting long shadows across her grave before him. He knew in heaven she must be scolding him, telling him to celebrate her life and not mourn her death. But how could he not? He missed her so much...

Those four years they had shared were the most magical years of his life. He remembered the day he had proposed on one knee in front of the fountain where they had first met. Their wedding, with cupcakes instead of an actual cake and dancing to their chosen song. Laying in bed with her night after night telling stories and laughing together...

The tears had run their course. He knew they would come again but he wanted to show her he was strong. With the gentleness of a mother holding a newborn he kissed the grave once more.

"I'm alright now Sophia. You don't need to worry about me, love. I know wherever you are you are happy. I miss you a lot but I know I'll see you again some day."

He stood silently and looked at the little grave that lay beside his loving wife's own. He leaned down and touched the grave with his fingers and laid the single rose he had on it. He nodded sadly and yet with a new strength he had found in coming here. It would be alright, he decided. Time would heal his wounds but could never fully cover them up. He stood up and walked back to his truck. On the smaller grave read the words:

Marie Jane Dreidmont
"We love you always."
November 14th 2013-November 14th 2013.