She knew that this
time would come, she just regretted it. Hated to have to stand there and watch
as he slipped from her grasp, she tried everything in her power to stop him
from leaving, but as his hand released hers, she knew that he was gone. And
she… she was truly alone.
Her heart seared from the pain, the hole in her chest grew. There was no way to
stop it. His life slowly ebbing away, as if it was her worst
nightmare come true. She knew this had to be a dream, she tried to wake
up, tried desperately to wake him. But he was gone. She fell on top of his
body, sobbing, wishing that he were there to hold her, to massage her neck, to
wipe away her tears, but he wasn't. She looked at the watch that lay beside
him. It was her birthday present. She picked it up. Both hands were smashed
against its silver face; time had stopped, at least for a moment.
She looked up to see them, looking at her, Harry, Tom, B'Elanna,
they were there, they took him away, they took her from him. The rain fell in
sheets as they carried his body back for the memorial service. She tried to
speak, but she couldn't, there were no words to express how she loved him, how
she needed him. But her cries were unanswered. She wept for him, for so many
nights, till the tears would flow no more. She tried not to think of him, but
every time she walked on the bridge, she knew that she would never see his
smile again. And yet it seemed that he was still there. His scent was still in
her quarters, his clothes still on his bed, his smile still in her mind.
He was there, at least in her memories, and she knew that she wasn't alone.
