Mourners walked from the grave, their cheeks stained with tears and their hearts full of sorrow. A young, dark-haired woman walked slowly in the opposite direction. Her head was bowed and her body trembled as she gently laid two roses atop the mahogany coffin. She stood there, in the cool spring morning for what seemed like an eternity but could only have been a matter of minutes. One hand rested on the coffin, the other on her heart. She clutched at her chest, breathing deeply. Pain radiated throughout her entire body but it wasn't physical. It was an emotional hurt that no medicine, doctor or Whitelighter could heal; only time. If only they'd had time on Earth; a lifetime together to grow old, to have a family, to love each other. They'd been robbed of a life of true love and happiness. The universe had brought them together only to wrench them apart far too soon. How could someone learn to live without their soul mate? The woman turned, and followed the last of the mourners through the cemetery gates. She glanced over her shoulder and took one last look at the distant headstone and the coffin which would soon be buried beneath it.
"I love you," she whispered with tears falling freely from her beautiful green eyes as she read those fated words one last time.
Here lies Andrew Trudeau
March 31st, 1970 ~ May 26th, 1999