There is beauty in endings.

I remember when you said that, curled up into my side as you pressed your paperback shut. Only you would find joy in something you loved coming to an end.

“Love never ends, though.” I’d said, nuzzling your temple.

I don’t think that’s true. I think it has to end, right? Because if it was forever, if you knew that it would never truly end, you’d never appreciate it.

“Is this your philosophical way of telling me you want to break up?”

You laughed and the earth rumbled. I don’t think we’ll be together forever because there is no forever. But don’t you think that’s better? If we do only have one life, one chance to get it right, isn’t it more romantic that against all odds we did find each other? That I get to have your forever?

I tried to argue with you, tried to tell you that when two people belong like we did that their love would break all cosmic and linear bounds. It was as if the universe called my bluff. Not even a month later and you got worried about a strange lump in your left breast. Not even a month later and you went from being the love of my life to an incubator for imminent death. I watched you become finite; felt you slip through my fingers as if you were already ash. And you were resilient, of course you were, nothing would take you down without a fight. But it was never a fair fight.

I don’t really know how to say goodbyes, but this isn’t what this is. I’m not letting you go, because I never will. I don’t think I’m even capable of it. I just want it to be known that our love was real, that it was fleeting, yes, but ferocious. It was beautiful.

And a wise woman once told me that there is beauty in endings.

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    Annyball Pencil
    Annyball Pencil(@annyball-pencil)
    1 year ago

    Sometimes I argue that few words cannot create enough depth in stories to spark a reader’s emotions, but you’ve successfully ruined that argument. Such a beautiful story.

    Melissa Taggart
    Melissa Taggart(@melissa-taggart)
    1 year ago

    Great story, Adam. Such a power read, the first and last line really set the tone for all the beauty that took place in the middle. This was wonderfully paced, and I look forward to reading more from you. Fantastic!

    Paul Lewthwaite
    Paul Lewthwaite(@paul-lewthwaite)
    1 year ago

    Hi Adam, as Melissa has already said, a very powerful read with an emotional punch and a philosophical analysis of what love might mean. Great read.

    Thompson Emate
    Thompson Emate(@thompson-emate)
    1 year ago

    A nice well-written story. Coping with the loss of a loved one is like sitting on a dynamite.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    1 year ago

    Hello, Dan. It is a fantastic read with a powerful and emotional hit of losing a loved one. Superb story. I like it.

    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    1 year ago

    Adam, this is a beautifully poignant, bittersweet story, and another that has made me feel very emotional. A lovely piece of writing. Very well done.

    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    1 year ago

    I think the comments speak for themselves Adam, this is a truly beautiful piece of writing.

    Christer Norrlof
    Christer Norrlof(@christer-norrlof)
    1 year ago

    Your story contains a wonderful combination of everyday, low key chit-chat and life’s most profound philosophy and its deepest emotions. Success on many planes, Adam! Congratulations!

    Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
    1 year ago

    Adam, you told the readers so much in only a few lines. When I got to the last paragraph, I couldn’t help wondering if she didn’t have some sort of premonition that something might be wrong, and that maybe that was what she tried to tell him, without sounding paranoid. It is such a horrible thing to experience when you lose a loved one and to see them suffer like she did.… Read more »

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