No other love

Agnes. That's what he called her. She never knew why and it really didn't matter. He mattered. She'd always loved his warm, kind voice, and anything he uttered these days was music to her ears.

She knew her time with him was coming to an end. They had an affinity, locked in each others gaze, blink blinking their morse code of love. Seventy years was a long, long time.

She'd already planned what she'd do when he eventually passed. Saved up as many of his sleeping pills and painkillers as she thought his body wouldn't miss. Half a tab here, quarter there, scooped straight into a little china cup then placed in the mahogany sideboard.

'Agnes. Where are you? AGNES ..'

'Coming, my darling. Just you hang on, now. One more minute, and l'll be right with you.'

Opening their bedroom door, her heart started to pound. She shuffled slowly to his side, searching for his cold hand under the warm bedclothes. Although propped up, his head had dropped to one side. Oh no, she thought. Not yet. I'm not ready. I'M NOT READY.

As she held his worn face in her small hands, his eyes flickered open to catch her last gaze. He then let out a deep breath as she cradled him in her arms.

Humming their favourite melody, she made her way back to him, trying not to spill the watery contents of the little, china cup.