when i learn i am dying,

my first thought is of mary.

i wonder who will hold her next.

more than that,

i wonder who she will love next.

~:~

i worry they won't know enough.

that they won't care to learn.

mary is so passionate.

i worry she will fall for the wrong one,

who won't learn her fears and

soothe them away.

who won't make her happy.

i fear they won't be worthy.

i never was.

~:~

-to the man who holds her in his arms next.-

~:~

she is headstrong.

she is stubborn.

she is oh so passionate.

~:~

she has a past that haunts her.

mary has been through so much.

she might tell you about it when she's ready,

but until then, don't ask.

just guide her through it,

will you?

it will haunt her forever,

and she won't ask for a rescue,

but she will need it.

give that to her.

she deserves that.

~:~

her country comes first.

i learned that early,

before we ever wed.

you'll have to accept that.

you will be the king of scotland,

eventually,

and i hope that for your sake,

you will understand and put

scotland first too.

her country comes first.

always.

never try thinking otherwise.

~:~

she is stubborn.

sometimes she will be unreasonable.

you just have to learn the tricks to get through to her.

it's not so hard, really.

except sometimes it is.

~:~

she is more fragile than she looks.

mary puts up a strong front because she is queen,

because she doesn't know anything else.

sometimes, at night, when she thinks you're asleep,

she will have panic attacks.

don't just let her go it alone.

hold her in your arms.

remind her to breathe.

tell her she is safe.

please.

please

tell her she is safe.

she needs to know that.

~:~

mary is passionate.

she will love you with everything in her.

don't forget that.

don't lose her.

love her back.

don't hurt her.

~:~

i have lost her before.

it brings you to your knees.

her absence rips a hole into your chest

that nothing else can fill.

don't lose her.

it is a pain you will not rid yourself of.

until you have her back.

~:~

she is golden.

her heart is a light

and it burns so very bright.

she is a queen.

love her with everything you have

and she will do anything for you.