AN: This was written for my best friend.
Shadow: Because I can't be with you in your time of need, I send this over the miles to atleast calm your aching heart. I love you with all my heart darling. You are a sister to me and I am here for you though we may not be together.
Alanna knew this day would come, but she never thought this soon. Her line of work put her close to death on many occasions but it hadn't hit so close to home in so long. She wanted to believe it was the Goddess' courtesy that all her family was in Corus at the time. Her husband, children and grandchildren. That way they all could say goodbye.
The news had come from a frantic squire early one morning out on the fencing courts. She and Kel were having a friendly duel when the boy arrived saying that Duke Baird wanted her immediately. She reached the infirmary in no time and received Baird's news. Myles, who had been sick for some time now, had gotten much worse.
For days the healers did all they could to save her father's life. But Alanna knew when enough was enough. Myles' body, already weakened from his drinking habits, could no longer support him. It was she who explained all this to Eleni and she who convinced her it was time to let go. The healers left the room to give the family space.
One by one her family said goodbye to their faithful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Finally it was just her in the room. She took one look at his face and the tears began to fall. Memories flooded through her as she lay her head close to his heart. The faint beat of his heart soothed her tears but her eyes stayed closed letting the memories be her simple goodbye.
The steady beat of his heart slowed and grew soft, so much that she quieted her breath to hear his heart for that much longer. There was not a sound in the room but for his faint heart. Still with her eyes closed she reached for his hand and held onto it tight.
The hand she held went cold as the room turned silent. That silence told her the truth her eyes would not believe. That silence told her what she needed to know. And that silence was deafening.
AN: I am not usually one to delve into this kind of thing on here but I needed to tell my friend everything would be okay. Maybe not today or tomorrow but eventually it will be.
I hope you enjoyed this one because it came from the heart. If you didn't like it please realize I didn't write it for you. I wrote it for my friend because she needed me.
And if this story struck a chord with you, or this could describe you now, always remember that the people we love never truly leave us.
*SD15