She unsteadily manoeuvred herself out on to the patio, wrinkled fingers fumbling with the curved handle of her walking aid. The inky sky was swollen with unshed tears, and as she approached a bench, she felt the first splash of rain on her thin, white hair. She knew she would not live much longer, and preferred the solitude of the park to the bustle of her nursing home. A thin sliver of moon peeked out from behind the clouds, illuminating her frail form. She carefully seated herself on the bench, cursing old age for its difficulties, remembering how her former self would have laughed at her now. Remembering.
She raised her view to the sky, heavy droplets falling onto her face, and smiled at the odd twinkling star she could see. She knew, she was blessed to have such a life. Travelling galaxies, with her best friend and lover at her side. Helping each and every person, making new friends, experiencing life as never before. For the first nineteen years of her life, it was normal, boring even, working in the shop, happiness derived from little things, like going out for chips on a sunny weekend and forgetting her house keys being the worst disaster. She was just another girl in the world. But at nineteen, everything changed when she met the best man in the universe. They had shared so much together, life was different, exciting, finally it had meaning. They had adventures, came close to death many times, but always, always, found a way and survived another day. She hoped it would never end, their laughter and love would survive forever. But, deep down, she knew.
After just two years, he lost her. She knew he loved her, but he never said. He couldn't say, he had too much to lose. She told him at the end. It shouldn't have been that way, but life was often unfair. She said she would stay with him forever, he said that he'd always find her, and always keep her safe. But she knew, one day, he would make just one mistake and it would cost them.
As she looked up at the deep black sky, chilled drops falling around her, soaking her insubstantial night dress, she wondered how she had come to this. An old, lonely, decrepit woman, with nobody to care for, living in a nursing home, all family or love long gone or deceased. She'd never married, always choosing to believe that he would find a way back to her. There were no children to look out for. Parents died, siblings moved away and forgotten. She hoped and prayed, her love would be happy out there, wherever he was, continuing his journey through the stars. They had been living a lie, surviving on false hope, and finally, their actions had caught up with them.
She stayed by that bench for a long time, dreaming, reminiscing, and if she tried hard enough, she could almost convince herself that she was a beautiful young woman once again, and he had just gone out to explore, but he would pop out from behind one of the trees, grab her hand and whisk her away, back like old times.
