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The silence hung in the air. Singing birds on the rooftops had stopped a few minutes before, and the soft wind brushed through her hair.
Now and then, a few refreshing drops of water touched the back of her neck, sending a pleasant feeling through as the morning breeze moved through the leaves of the trees around the lake behind her.
"Morning, love," called a familiar voice behind her.
A smile crossed her lips at the sound of the most important person in her life.
"Since when do we start our days like this?" she said playfully, not turning around on purpose. "You sneak up behind my back and say 'morning'?"
"Is that a bad thing?" he chuckled gently. "I thought you'd relish the surprise."
"Funny," she rolled her eyes. "You know I hate sudden surprises..."
"And yet, here you are," he murmured. "Calm. Relaxed. Peaceful. Sitting here next to the lake—our lake..."
"Well, either way," she sighed softly, taking a deep breath, filling her lungs with the mist in the morning air. "I did relish your presence, and your lovely voice, love—music to my ears, as always..."
She sensed the warmth of his breaths getting closer slowly, brushing over the skin of her neck, allowing her to drown deeper in this beautiful moment.
"Anytime, love," he breathed calmly.
"Thanks," she closed her eyes, continuing to feel, to enjoy the moment.
"I'd like you to turn around and let me see your face," he said quietly. "If that's okay?"
The solid lump in her throat melted away at the sound of his words.
"You... you're okay with that?" she trembled nervously.
"Of course, dear," he responded kindly. "There's no need to ask; you know it."
She swallowed hard, opening her eyes as a flicker of hope lit the darkness in her heart.
"And... would you give me a kiss?" she stammered shyly. "One of your warm, gentle kisses on my forehead?"
"Just turn around, love," she heard his reassuring voice.
She took a deep breath and shifted to face him—and found herself staring.
Staring at a blanket of green covering the grave—and the gravestone.
"Just turn around, love," read the words on the headstone, giving her welled up tears an excuse to fall slowly down her warm cheeks.
How kind of rain, providing a hiding place for her tears—letting them avoid the sight of the eternal home of her love, her life... her friend...