He pushed the tape in a pressed play.
"If you hear a crinkling sound in the background that's the plastic, you don't have to worry about the tape being faulty or something.
I guess this is the part where I tell you that I'm sorry you found out like this, and I wish I would have told you sooner. It's not happening so don't get your hopes up. I'm just going to get this over with, I'm dying. I have been dying since the day I was born, something wrong with my heart. By the time you get this, I am dead because that's its point, you get this after I die."
He could hear her sniffle slightly in the background.
"I know neither of us have been completely honest in this relationship, and I don't know what kept us together but I know it worked. I'm sitting here looking at a Lifesaver and contemplating what the meaning of a lifesaver is supposed to be. I mean, you could go the easy way and say saver of lives, but where's the fun in that? Lifesaver, my personal lifesaver, you."
He starts to tear up at the memory of her.
"You're my rock. The one I can always count on. May it be for a home, for love, for fights. You were always there. I know I got jealous of some people but it's in a girls nature to want to have to keep her man, hers and hers only. I know there are things that I'm leaving out, but the beauty of it is, it's those parts that you'll have to fill. You make your own theories about what I would have said, or done, or acted. If your future has holes that were meant for me to fill, take the memories you have of me, of us, of the way things were, and fill them. You always were a handyman."
He smiles and than slowly starts to sob as he imagines his future without her.
"And in a true Burger fashion I know that you're thinking dramatically, you will have a future, don't worry. If anything you'll have a future just because I'm making you. Please, please, have a future, for me, for the one I won't ever get.
Well if you remembered anything about me, you should remember that I hate good-byes. Doing this is killing me, but hey! I'm already dying, and I know that if I didn't do this I would hate whatever I have left of myself for not telling you this. I love you Joe Morelli, I'm in love with you. You don't ever have to worry about that, this is the part I hate," He hears her mumble and he leans in closer, reassuring himself that he will hear it, "Good-bye sweets, I love you."
§§§
The words of the prayer were lost on the crowd for they didn't speak this language. And though they didn't understand it, they felt it. Just like they felt a whirlwind when she died.
The priest said the final words in English, with an added ending.
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Today is a mourning of our own hero, peace be with you Stephanie Michelle Plum."
Her casket was lowered.
§§§