When The Time
Comes
The shaft of
sunlight inched across the bed until it stabbed his eyes. He turned his head,
not wanting to get up. He hurt. His muscles ached, his joints screamed with
pain when he moved, his head felt too heavy to lift. Then he remembered - today was the day...the time had come.
Slowly he ambled
into the kitchen. “Good morning, Sunshine!” She smiled at him. “Got your
breakfast ready.” She put his breakfast
down and kissed the top of his head. She sat down to eat, chatting about this
and that, about the day ahead. He gazed at her, remembering the day they met,
the years between then and now. He loved her. He loved everything about her
– the way her hair curled up on the end, the bit of gray, the way her eyes sparkled when she looked at him, the
sound of her voice. He would miss her.
Too soon she was
ready to leave. He walked her to the car. She turned and put her arm around
him, “I have to stop at the grocery store after work, but I’ll be home in
plenty of time for supper. You stay out of trouble.” She smiled. His heart
ached.
He watched the car
until it was out of sight. It was a beautiful day. The sky was such a bright
blue and the clouds were so white and fluffy. He walked to the front yard. Past
the bird bath where a vivid scarlet cardinal splashed. Past the rose bed and
her red and pink and yellow roses. He remembered the day they planted them; well,
the day she planted them. He had tried to help, especially with the digging,
but she shooed him away and said she could do it by herself.
His gaze drifted
across the road to the large empty field. One summer there was a tent revival
there and they walked across the road to listen to the singing. What is it like
to die, he wondered? Will I go to heaven like that preacher said? He didn’t
know about those things; he wished he did.
In the back yard he
thought about all the times they cooked supper on the deck. That was nice;
especially afterwards when they just sat and enjoyed the summer night sounds.
They had had a good life together, him and her. He hoped she would not be too
upset with him.
He walked slowly up
the path that led into the woods. That was one of their favorite things,
walking through the forest together.
Shadows closed round him as he entered the cool darkness of the trees.
Sounds of the birds and squirrels followed him down the familiar path. When he
came to a fork, he turned and went away from their usual path.
He had found the
place last fall. If you didn't know it was there, you wouldn’t find it,
especially now that bushes covered it. He didn't want her to find him. He had
to do this his way; it was better this way. There it was just ahead, just a
small crevice between two boulders. He slipped inside.
Inside the small
cave, it was dim, just a small bit of sunlight filtered through. At least here
he would be dry if it rained, and it was cool.
Leaves had blown through the opening and covered the floor. He pushed them
together to make a bed. There.
What is it like to
die? Will there just be nothing or will I go to heaven? He was so tired. His
legs throbbed from the walk, his muscles ached. He laid down on the bed of
leaves, thankful for their comfort. When the time came - there was nothing left now but to wait. He would
think of her – remembering their time together - and wait. With a sigh, he laid his weary
head down on his paws.
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Another, then another warily come forward to feed.
