Alison walked around the apartment assessing what should be shipped off to Jeff’s family back east, and which items should be donated to charity - awful decisions to be making on a Friday morning when it felt like the rest of the world would be busy looking forward to the weekend.
Looking forward was something she couldn’t imagine ever doing again.
She went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea, and while filling up the kettle she saw Jeff’s favourite mug waiting to be washed, dried coffee inside, sitting in the sink.
Alison picked it up, closing her eyes and, though she knew she would never see him again, in her mind she watched Jeff getting out of bed early in the morning, getting dressed, drinking his coffee, kissing her before he went out the door.
She pressed the mug to her lips and, for the first time, she began to say goodbye.
Beautiful and it actually touched a chord as my husband makes me coffee each morning before work, sometimes leaving dried coffee inside a mug on the kitchen counter ready for boiling water if its too early. Made me think how I would feel is this was me.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bernadette. I appreciate you taking the time to read my story and for leaving such a moving comment.
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful, JT - poignant and sad and hopeful. A really insightful exploration of the early raw days of grief and of the complexity of greiving. The final sentence is going to stay with me for a long, long time. Beautiful - just absolutly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lori for your very lovely comment.
DeletePoignant, Jo-Anne. Is it not strange that in order to let go, to say goodbye, we first have to hold it tight to us like the way she put her lips to his cup.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by Quirina and for taking the time to comment. That is exactly the feeling I was trying to express - that final clasp and holding tight before having to let go.
DeleteI nominated you for the versatile blogger award! :)
ReplyDeleteStephanie, you are so lovely. Thank you!!
DeleteWow! This is a very touching story. Very real, very much like what it was like when my best friend passed.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much London for your generous comment. I'm so sorry for the loss of your dear friend.
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