It is bound to happen.

To everything. Every human, animal, plant and tree. It is bound to happen. To the stars, the Earth, the sun and the moon. Death is bound to happen.

I was in a hospital bed, tubes as thin as thread pierced into my wrist, an air mask strapped to my mouth and a sharp pain in my head. I remember hearing a voice filled with sobs. That someone's shaking hand was holding mine. I looked up and saw something extraordinary… 

The star-filled night.

It was as if a portal opened in the ceiling revealing the scene. Despite the blackness of the sky, stars seem to mimic fireflies in the night sky. 

 There was a desire in me to go into the night, I wanted to leave behind all of this pain and misery and to be surrounded by the stars, warm and comfortable. 

I reached my hand out, and my pain went away. I could suddenly get up just like I used to when I was healthy. I was standing up now on my bed looking to see who was holding my hand. 

I recognized the woman, even through her red eyes and sobs. Yet, I did not know who she was. I only remembered her name… Edith. 

Edith was old and frail, with deep wrinkles throughout her entire body (my body on the bed did also, only more pale). In addition to her short, white hair, she wore thick, round glasses that had a shiny finish... 

I do not know why I felt so strongly for Edith or why I wanted to be with her. 

I thought the pain went away, why was it coming back?

I wanted to go to the night, but Edith was right there. She was sad and tired. 

My desire to go into the night was over run by the feeling I had for Edith. 

My heart was yearning to be with her, so I reached for her, trying to grab hold of her, to hold her tight, to give her an embrace, and to tell her everything would be OK, but something held me back. It felt as if an invisible force pulled me back from reaching Edith.

I now knew there was no choice. I had to go to the star-filled sky and leave Edith behind.

 I wondered... Why do tears burn my eyes? 

I looked at Edith and said, “I love you.”

I jumped so high into the night my face felt as if it had melted; stars like lightning bolts flashed at the corner of my eyes. 

As I zoomed through the air, I was able to see things that had happened to me in the past: Young Edith and I bumping into each other in the street, us talking over lunch, Edith kissing me on the cheek and walking away, both of us eating at a picnic. I then saw me proposing to Edith, us kissing on our wedding day and Edith holding our daughter in the hospital as I kissed her on the cheek. I saw our daughter Abigail taking her first steps, I saw her as an 8 yr old hugging me close, as a teenager being lifted up by her teammates after winning the game, as a graduate earning her diploma, as a bride, and as a mother. Finally, I saw old Edith and I staring into the dark sky on a quilted blanket. 

I understand why I felt this way about Edith…

It was because she was my darling Edith.

I saw a white light in the distance; it became bigger as I got closer..

I was at the white light and closed my eyes. 

I love you my darling Edith.