Eternal Love

She sits, she fidgets, rubbing her hands together in constant motion.  Her eyes dart back and forth, never quite settling on any one thing.  After sitting for just a moment, she rises, and paces.  
He watches quietly, eternal sadness in his eyes.  She doesn't know his name anymore, but she recognizes love when she feels it.  She goes to him, and holds out her hand.  
"What do you need, honey?" he asks.  "Are you hungry?  How 'bout a cookie?  You sure do like those."  
She smiles and nods, her eyes brightening.
"Come on, then, " he says, leading her into the kitchen.
I love to watch them, even now.  He takes care of her every need, physically and emotionally; taking his vow seriously.  
"In sickness and in health, 'til death do us part".
The years weren't always easy.  Many things tried to part them, but, choosing love and forgiveness, they pressed on.
They fought addiction, jealousy and poverty.  
They lived the greater part of their lives without eternal hope.  And when 
they found that hope,
they found a greater love than they had ever imagined.
And now, sickness is taking its toll.  She isn't the same woman he married so long ago.  But sometimes, the young beauty he fell in love with shines through a laugh, a smile, a simple touch.
I watch as he leads her back into the den.
"How 'bout some bluegrass?" he asks her.  She claps her hands and smiles.
As the music begins, she moves her feet and sways, lost in a past and a present that we can't be a part of.
Nevertheless, I can't help but smile as she does, and I feel the beat of the music.
I tap my feet and sing along with her, and feel that somehow, she is happy.
I go to him, and hug him.  Tomorrow I go home, and leave him here alone with her.  But now I see, love will see them through, 'til death do them part.

Written by Kendra Roberts Lynn
December 29th, 2007