The Second Goodbye is Forever
The fire and pride of her youth were long gone.
She lit a candle for me. Smoke curled upward as her voice rasped, "Ten years. Are you doing alright over there? In the next life, I'll find you earlier. I'll take care of you. I won't let go again... Just wait for me, okay?"
The fire on the candle went off without warning.
Claire froze.
She stared at the candle, her eyes reddening slowly. Then she covered her face, her shoulders shaking violently.
I stood behind her. My spirit was growing lighter, fainter, dissolving like morning mist.