He\'d pulled her
from the wrekage.
Literally out of
her upturned car.
Life hadn\'t been kind.
He waited bedside
as she recovered.
A total stranger
who warmed that
empty space within him.
Twenty three years later
she\'d left him
for that hope
in our minds
some call heaven.
But now, here,
on the beach,
he looked out to sea
there she was,
calling to him.
He knew she wasn\'t there
but oh, did he want
her to be there.
So easily he could wade
out to where she wasn\'t
to be together again.
But no. Reality clicked in.
Always clicked in.
There would be
no romance
suddenly gagging
for breath
inhaling gobfuls
of water, drowning.
Better his gentle drowning
of futile days
and lonely evenings.
Library lost and
bus pass drifting.
Charity weekday lunches
with the ruthless toothless.
Smile again and
shrug it off.
And think about
the next little treat
life has to offer.
Oooh yes!
an ice cream
here at the seaside
with the grandchildren.