“More than anything,” I confirmed and, with a smile, added just for him, “You’ve beenas special as special can be.”
Rune sucked in a breath at my response.
As the sun rose to her place, to watch protectively over the sky, I said, “Rune, I’m ready to go home.”
Rune squeezed me one last time, then moved to get to his feet. As he moved, I weakly lifted my hand and held onto his wrist. Rune looked down at me, and blinked back his tears. “I mean … I’m ready to gohome.”
Rune’s eyes closed for a moment. He crouched down and cradled my face in his hands. When his eyes opened, he nodded. “I know, baby. I felt it the moment you decided.”
I smiled. I took one last glance at the panoramic view.
It was time.
Rune gently lifted me into his arms, and I watched his beautiful face as he walked back over the sand. He held my gaze.
Turning one more time to face the sun, my eyes dropped to the golden sand. And then my heart filled with such impossible light when I whispered, “Look, Rune. Look at your footprints in the sand.”
Rune’s eyes left mine to observe the beach. His breath caught and his gaze came back to me. Lip quivering, I whispered, “You carried me. In my hardest times, when I couldn’t walk … you carried me through.”
“Always,” Rune managed to reply hoarsely. “Forever always.”
Taking a deep breath, I laid my head against his chest and hushed out, “Take me home, baby.”
As Rune drove, chasing the day, I didn’t move my eyes from him once.
I wanted to remember him just like this.
Always.
Until he was back in my arms for good.
Rune
It was two days later.
Two days of lying beside Poppy in bed, committing her every feature to memory. Holding her, kissing her—reaching our nine hundred and ninety-ninth kiss.
When we returned from the beach, Poppy’s bed had been pulled to the window, just like in the hospital. With each hour, she weakened, but, just like Poppy, with each passing minute she was filled with happiness. Her smiles reassuring us all that she was okay.
I was so damn proud of her.
As I stood at the back of the room, I watched as each of her family members kissed her goodbye. I listened, as her sisters and DeeDee told her they would see her again. I stayed strong as her parents held their tears for their girl.
When her mama stepped aside, I saw Poppy’s hand reach out. She was reaching out for me. Inhaling deeply, I forced my leaden feet to push forward to her bed.
She still took my breath away with how beautiful she was. “Hei, Poppymin,” I said and sat on the edge of her bed.
“Hey, baby,” she replied, her voice now barely above a whisper. I brought my hand to hers and pressed a kiss to her mouth.
Poppy smiled and melted my heart. A loud gust of wind blew past the window, whistling against the glass. Poppy inhaled sharply. I turned to see what she was seeing.
A mass of blossom petals went sailing in the wind.
“They’re leaving…,” she said.
I closed my eyes briefly. It was apt that Poppy left the same day that the cherry blossoms lost their petals too.
They were guiding her soul home.