{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fcharset0 Arial;}} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs20 Our Ending\par \par We didn't have enought time and what we did have was damaged by the knowledge of what was to come. I met and loved you from the start and you returned that love and we were happy together. Our life was the fairy tale except somebody forgot to include the happy ending. Our dream of the everlasting honeymoon started so well and it seemed to be set to last forever. You and I at sea far away from anything that might cause us concern or worry and with unlimited time to hold and love. We shared the most beautiful sunsets with only each other and the seabirds and we did not let your headaches worry us. After all it was all perfect and we were in love. The day came when we could no longer ingore the pain that drove everything away and we ran for help. The sea had become something we had to leave as soon as we could in order to find help and our lazy days became rushed and driven as we pushed the boat and prayed for the winds to hold strong and fair. As we neared that strange land I begged for help on the radio and soon the chopper came and took you away leaving me to follow as best I could. Days later the doctors were waiting when I arrived and their news was not good. There was nothing that could be done and you were going to leave me. All the frantic phone calls and second opinions were for naught and it soon became clear there was no other end for us. We returned to our beloved boat and held each other and cried and cursed and prayed. Your end would come slowly and painfully and at the end you would be alone for you'd no longer know me. It became your wish to choose a different way and begged me to help you. We talked long into many nights and you became at ease with what you wished and I became your partner in it. You left word that you wished to go with me to die at sea and be buried there. On and in the waters that had given you and us so much pleasure. Our course retraced to the places where we had shared so many happy days and nights and we tried to be happy again but we both knew the time was short. A small private cove with a beautiful white sand beach was the place you wanted and we too soon found it. Too soon for me but just in time for you for the thing in you was winning and your days were filled with too much pain to bear. We laid together on the sand and watched as the sun dropped below the sea and the moon took its place and talked of what we had and what might have been. I knew this would be the last time I would feel your body next to mine and I didn't know how I would live without you sharing the world with me. You asked to make love one last time and we did- slow and long and filled with tenderness. I could see the monster in you causing your pain and hated it. We held each other close and with a pain racked voice asked me to end your struggle. I kissed you long and slow and deep and very carefully slid the long sharp knive into you. You gasped a little as the cold steel slipped under your ribs and your lovely breasts and into your dear heart. The heart that loved me and that I was now cutting and killing. You must have known for with your last breath you thanked me and loved me. I laid there in the sand with you the rest of the night and cursed the fates but by the dawn I realised that I had been the luckest man alive to have known your love even for the too short time we had. You sleep in the deep waters as you wished and I still sail them in the boat we loved. I love you always\par }