The Wish
At his love’s deathbed
He wished he could have faith
Faith that after leaving this mortal coil
His true love’s spirit would live forever
In happiness…In his heart
He searched his mind for the names
Of every god he had ever heard of or known
And called on them all
Offering anything…Absolutely anything
For the wish of faith
Darkness filled the chamber
Around his love’s deathbed
The curtains billowed and snapped taught
From the sudden ghostly sea wind
Like the sails of Death’s ferry in the sailors’ tales
His love drew a long burdened breath
His gaze dived into her deep pools of liquid blue
Her look was loving, knowing, accepting
Unlocking all of the Universe’s secrets
She began to curl one last perfect smile
In that instant
That moment between the mortal and the immortal
That snapshot of eternity
His wish twisted and wound back on itself
Like the gentle puff of pipe smoke in an sealed and stagnant tomb
Fear stabbed at his brain, and he wished with all of his being
Like a savage and selfish monster
That he could have this moment of eternity
Love’s last lingering gaze forever
Offering anything…Absolutely anything
It may have been the ghosts or the gods
The demons or the deities
Or merely the Universe unfolding
But it was this wish he made at his love’s last light
That was granted
And now love’s spectre haunts him
Its perfect smile and loving look
Swirl above his bed from dusk until dawn
Offering anything…Absolutely anything
To reside only in happiness…In his heart
