Til We Meet Again

These characters belong to the great J.R.R. Tolkien, and no copy write infringement is intended.

Til We Meet Again

            A soft, warm breeze blew through the curtains.  Outside, it was a beautiful midsummer's day.  Sam Gamgee knelt beside the bed of his beloved wife Rose watching her sleep.  Her peaceful face was pale and lined with years, but to Sam she was still so beautiful.  A soft murmur of voices, accented by the occasional squeal of a small child, could be heard outside the closed door.  A great sorrow lay on the residents of Bag End, where Sam and Rose's thirteen children, along with their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren had gathered to say good-bye to the beloved matriarch of the Gamgee clan.

            Sam took Rose's frail hand into his own and gently squeezed it.  He had lost many loved ones in his long life, and endured many sad partings, but none cut him so deeply as this.  A sudden image of a white ship sailing into the mists came into his mind.  No, not even that could have prepared him for the way he felt now – watching his dear Rose, his wife of sixty-two years slip away from him.

            Rose stirred and opened her eyes.  She smiled at Sam.  "Good morning, dear", she said, squeezing his hand.  "Good morning, Rose darling."  Sam tried to keep his voice from breaking, but wasn't successful.  Rose looked at Sam with a mixture of concern and pity.  "Please don't grieve so much, Sam", she sighed.  "You've made me so happy.  I want you to go on being happy."  "Yes dear", Sam replied, his voice choked with tears.  "But, it will be so hard…to go on…"  Rose reached up and brushed the curls from Sam's forehead.  "You've gone on before", she smiled. "And now…", she paused, then breathed softly, "you're free to follow your heart."

            Sam started.  He looked into Rose's eyes as realization dawned on him.  He had never told Rose...he had been afraid she would be hurt...though he had never considered leaving…. "My heart has always been with you", he pleaded, "please believe me…" " I know", Rose smiled,  "no one could have loved me as much as you, or been as dear a husband and father.  But I know that a part of your heart belonged…somewhere else."  Rose recalled the many times she had watched from her kitchen window as Sam sat on the porch, his eyes gazing as though to another place, to the West, to the Sea.

            "Oh Rose, I do love you so", Sam sobbed.  "And I you.  It's alright, Sam".  Rose beamed at him.  "I know how much you love me.  I know the choice you made".  She reached up and Sam gently took her in his arms.  Rose's eyes closed and she took a deep breath.  "Rose", Sam cried.  With a final effort she looked up into the sad eyes of her husband.  "Farewell, my darling", she sighed, "and a safe journey.  He's waiting for you", Rose smiled, "and after that…I'll be waiting, too."  Rose closed her eyes.  Sam held her tightly, rocking her gently as sobs racked his body.  "Til we meet again, Rose, my dear, my love", he said.