He moved towards her, close enough to reach out to touch her. His heart was breaking. She turned and her hair flicked across his face.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Took a while to find you. Let’s go home.”

She stepped back.

“I can’t.”

She looked at him, her eyes were clear, pleading.

“I just want to be with her. Help me.”

A sudden breeze rose up, swirling the dried leaves around them.

Her eyes were suddenly clear, lucid, as if he could see right through them. The wind picked up speed, trees started swaying and leaves blew around the roof in small circles. She whispered above the wind, barely, but he heard her.

“We will meet again, when there is only light, no more darkness.” She faced the wind, and stood closer to the edge. “I gave you the ground I stood on, I’m sorry. So sorry…”

She reached out her arms and he went to her, he kissed her cheek, her eyes, caressed her neck and breathed in her scent. The wind was dying, her pulse fading. He kissed her lips, they were cold.

“I love you Del. I love you.”

“You’ve been so good to me. I did try, I really did.”

“Let’s try harder, shall we? I promise… just come home.”

“I can’t. No good anymore.” Her eyes were nothing but pain.

“We need to fight this. We promised each other, remember? I can’t do this alone.” Omar pleaded. “I need you….” He took a deep breath. “I am all you have left, Del… it’s just us now."

“You think she’s dead?”

“I don’t know, but you are alive. That’s all that matters.”

Del stiffened, she tried to push him away, but he held fast and strong. He held her like that for a while until they both felt the droplets on their skin.

She looked up and said, “It’s starting to rain.”

Epilogue

I can see the sky. Vermillion. Then a slow blue. A sparrow chirps. I turn my head to look for it. There. A little head bobbing up and down. Streaks of white against brown feathers. A darting mouth.

I stand up slowly. The rows of white buds are just starting to flower and I’m pleased.

The gardener has just left, and together we watered all the plants in the garden. He wanted to rake the leaves and red flower petals that were strewn all over after the heavy storm the night before, but I insisted that I would do it myself.

“Madam, you must be careful, in your condition,” he said.

“It’s okay. I’m fine. The doctor says exercise is good,” I chuckled, reassuring him.