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Chapter 36

March 2015

Clara woke up from her sleep and slowly opened her eyes. She smiled as she looked into John's familiar, kind face, only now realizing that he was holding her hand. He still looked exactly like he had in the dream she had just had. That wonderful dream of him twirling her around the dance floor, of the two of them being so young and so much in love.

"I've had a dream," she said, hating how weak her voice sounded. In her dream she had been young and so full of energy, "I dreamed we were young and you took me dancing."

John smiled kindly. "That wasn't a dream. That's a memory."

"And you walked me to my doorstep and kissed me."

"Ah, the first New Year's Eve we spent together. You wore a blue petticoat dress and you forced me to dance until I couldn't feel my feet. It was wonderful," John laughed at the memory.

"How many years has it been?" Clara asked after a while.

He hesitated for a moment. "55 years," he replied with a sigh.

"55 years," she repeated slowly, "And here you are, still keeping your promise."

John cleared his throat and reached into the pocket of his jacket, retrieving a thick envelope.

"The mail arrived while you were sleeping. Beth wrote us. From Norway," he grinned proudly.

"Ah, at least she's in Europe this time. Will you read it to me?"

Slowly John unfolded the letter, placing the pictures Beth had included aside.

"Dear Mum and Dad,

I'm hiking through Norway for a travel report at the moment and today Leonard and I have reached the Arctic Circle. He's not too useless as an intern but he complains a lot about being cold. At least I've got someone to carry the equipment. I sent you some of the pictures I've taken in the past weeks and I hope you will enjoy them. The old stave churches are magnificent and the landscape is simply breathtaking. The people are really friendly and helpful, too. We've already built a little heap of stones here which is supposed to protect us from the trolls as we go farther north. We only have a few hours of daylight and it gets worse the higher we go. Now that I think about it, it probably wasn't the best idea to go hiking in March.

But I am well and I'm enjoying it here. I hope everything at home is fine and we can catch up after I return. I'm really looking forward to seeing you both.

Love,

Beth."

Clara smiled to herself after John had finished reading the letter.

"I'm so proud of her," she said, "I know I probably could have been a little more supportive of her dreams but I'm glad she found her way."

"Beth knows that," John reassured her, "She knows you love her and that you only want the best for her."

"I thought it was phase. I thought some day she would settle down, have a husband and children, a proper home."

"We are her proper home, Clara. And she's always been an adventurer. Some people are just born like this and I know that she is very happy out there."

"I know that, too."

"What about you? Are you happy?" John asked out of the blue.

"Yes," she replied sincerely, "Thanks to you. You gave me everything I've ever wanted."

He smiled sadly and suddenly shifted to lie down in bed next to her. Softly John held her in his arms as if she was breakable Porcelain.

"You know it, don't you?" Clara asked carefully, "You know my time is almost up."

John replied nothing at all. Instead he bent down and gently kissed her forehead.

"It's okay," she said, "I'm not scared. I'm only worried about you. What will you do when I'm gone?"

"I have Beth."

"I never thought you'd be the one left behind. By pure reason alone it should have been me," she breathed before she turned her head to face John. "You still look exactly like you have on the day we met. For decades I've wondered why you never age."

Suddenly John began to chuckle. "I held out on that for you. Ageing – that's boring. Who needs ageing?"

Clara started to laugh as well. "You're being silly."

"I promised you, Clara," he said with a sudden seriousness, "I promised you I wouldn't die before you. You've lost enough and I just wanted to show you that not everyone leaves. I wanted to be there for you until the end."

She leaned closer against his chest and sighed. "I love you so much. From the day we've met you've been my everything. Without you I would have died alone, probably still a waitress in that diner. Words can't express how grateful I am for every second with you."

"I love you, too, Clara and all those seconds you just talked about, I will cherish the memory of them for as long as I live."

Clara felt tired again as she rested against his chest. Tired, but happy. She closed her eyes.

OOO

Beth walked next to him as they left the graveyard, trying to dodge any more people giving them their condolences. It had been a nice service, sad and beautiful among the closest of friends. Beth had only just returned from Norway the day before, the news of her mother's death not reaching her immediately as she was hiking in the middle of nowhere.

"Was it peaceful?" Beth asked in a low voice when they were finally alone.

He nodded gravely. "She died in her sleep, in my arms. Exactly like she had wanted it."

Beth looked up at him. "What will you do now?"

"I, erm," he hesitated, "I need some time. I'll write to you when I'm ready."

"Ready for what?" Beth inquired, "What have you planned?"

"Oh, you'll see. I still have one more promise to keep. Just give me a little time, okay?"