Queen
She simply smiles that beautiful smile at me.
“You’ll be the best king that ever was.”
“Please!” I can feel the tears gathering in my eyes, but I can’t help it – not anymore.
I’m a fool.
“No, no” she whispers as she breaks from my grasp, reaches up and wipes my tears with the pad of her thumb.
“None of this, King Rasmus.” she teases me.
The various cracking chips of my heart shatter all at once.
Tears spring to my eyes and - she's so beautiful - she wipes them away! This perfect creature offers me encouragement as she lies dying.