Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #16 July 2015 | Page 36

wearing the same dress as on that fateful day.
She noticed his look and swayed her hips, the
light cotton swinging back and forth above her knees
then she spoke. Her voice was like a memory. How
long had it been since he last heard it? How many
years since they had been parted? Fifty years of marriage and then a fall on ice, a shattered hip, and she
was gone, so sudden. How often now did he hear that
voice only in his dreams?“ I wore this when we first
met, do you remember?”
“Such a wonderful day, the sun, so warm.”
She nodded, her smile like the sun breaking
through the clouds. “I remember, I was thirsty so I
asked a handsome man for a drink of his water.”
“Why did you leave me alone?”
For a second her smile faded and sorrow filled
her eyes. She reached toward him, her hand open,
waiting.
“I’m here now love, I’m here.”
Martin lifted his right hand, the arm trembling from the effort, his fingers shaking and curved
like a claw, his face told of how difficult it was to do
even something so simple. Then his fingers touched
those of his wife, curled round until her tiny hand was
engulfed in his big fist. She smiled and held his hand

tight, her strength steadied him, suddenly it was no
effort to hold his arm up, and he relaxed a little.
“Did you walk the dogs today? They need a
good walk.”
“Not yet. I thought we could take them for a
long walk this afternoon, across the park.”
Martin tried to nod, but the effort was too
much. Still, he could manage a smile. A good long
walk, holding hands with his wife, the dogs running
around them, chasing each other and sniffing for the
squirrels in the trees. That sounded wonderful, just
like they used to.
Martin dropped his head back on the pillow,
too weak now to hold it up. He sighed. Then he sat up
and swung his legs to the side, over the edge of the
bed so his feet touched the floor. He looked around the
room, the walls still a blur of off-white around him,
the sound of the machines finally silent.
Then his gaze fell upon the laughing face of his
wife, beautiful as the day they had met. She reached
out a hand, and he took it.She pulled then groaned at
how heavy he was. He stood suddenly and dragged her
toward him, crushing her to the tee shirt that covered
the muscles of his chest as she laughed.
Outside the day was bright, birds were singing,
the dogs were barking. It was a wonderful day for a
walk.

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