When Love Dies 2 - Rest in Peace

Last night we signed the death certificate of our marriage.Cause of death: Emotional abuse.The patient had been sick for quite some time.The passing was not easy.From time to timewe drew unreasonable hope from numerous short lived remissions,though in our hearts we knew the condition inoperable.Soon we shall announce to acquaintances and relatives of the dear departed,the untimely demise of our oldest friend.We shall place within the personal columns of the local pressour last farewells to one we have long loved, and shall promise never, ever to forget.This promise we shall keepuntilwe are distractedby more important matterslike pay chequesor poems or tonight’s episode of Star Trek.To the funeralwe shall inviteall who loved our former friend.And they will eulogise;and sympathise;and patronise the widow and the widower.And when the words have all been spokeAnd when the tears have all been criedAnd when the wake is gone and donewe two shall stand,and reach out across the open grave.Without a word,in unison,and choreographed precision,that elegant, unconscious coordination born of twenty nine years of partnership,we shall stoop to clutch at handfuls of soilcasting them down upon the coffin lid,sadly shaking our headsat the death of immortality.Then shall we turn,each to our own way,to gorge ourselves on hopes and dreams;ethereal, insubstantial mirages of happiness.Later,much, much later,we will think upon this day when we chose to walk away.And only then will we realisethat the dear departed lay,heart faintly beating,asphyxiating,pleadingunheededfor help;finally to expirein a dark and lonely gravewhile we coveredour ears in stubbornness