John pulled his black Jeep Cherokee onto the beach as the sun slowly started the fade behind the ocean water. Dusk was nearing as the sky swirled in millions of colors, the sun showing it's last ray of light. John watched for a second, memorizing the outside world as he glanced over at his wife. Her usual rosy complexion was faded at that, her body becoming frail and weaker by the second. Her eyes were closed as she leaned against the cool leather seats, the night air blowing gently in her face. He lifted her out of the car gently, as her hazel eyes opened, a small smile forming on her lips.
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed . . .
They sat down just before the water, John's tight arms wrapped around her as they sat silent momentarily taking in all life had to offer. He held out his hand for her as she placed hers in his, their fingers lacing together.
"It's so beautiful out here," she whispered as she watched a flock of seagulls fly over the sparkling water. "It's so weird knowing this will be the last time I ever see the sun set, the last time I ever see a flock of birds going back home . . . and the last time, I'll ever be sitting here with you . . . like this."
"Yeah," he said quietly as he stared at the wedding ring on both their fingers, "Doc, I don't think I can do this, not without you here with me."
"Yes, you can baby," she said turning around to face him, her hazel eyes glistening over in tears as she stared into his blue orbs, getting lost in his pain. "You can do this John, I promise you that. You have this sense of wonder, of joy, or discovery inside of you and you can follow that, you don't need me. Don't waste time on this, never waste a breath because you'll be missing out on all life has to offer, even a second chance of loving," Marlena said softly as tears made their way down her cheeks.
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give fate a fighting chance . . .
"How can you expect me to do that?" John asked, wiping her tears, "Marlena, I've only known two loves in my life, you and Isabella . . . but I only had one soulmate and that is you. I can't just move on like nothing happened, I *won't* do that."
"I know how you felt when Isabella died. You felt as if all the walls were closing in on you, almost as if you were in a room full of doors and they all just slammed shut but John, don't you see that another one will always open? I was your door the first time and maybe this time someone else will come along, but just promise me you won't stop fighting for another chance in life because you deserve one and I won't be happy until I know you got it," she whispered, as she turned back around facing the water.
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance . . .
"Dance with me," John whispered in her ear, "before it's to late."
Marlena obliged as she held her hand out for him as he pulled her up gently from the soft sand, wrapping his arms tightly around her. He held her in his arms for moments without words being spoken, just the mere touch of each other's bodies against their own as they swayed to the rhythmic music in their mind.
"Promise me something?" Marlena said quietly as she laid her head on his shoulder, his hands making their way through her silky mane.
"Anything for you . . ."
"There are two kinds of people in life, honey . . . there are the ones who sit out and watch as their lives pass them by and there are the ones who go through life dancing . . . if you are given the opportunity, I hope you dance because John, if you live life sitting out on the sidelines who knows what you can be passing up," she said honestly, inhaling his scent.
"How am I just supposed to do that, Doc? You're asking me to have a life without you and I can't. I may be alive on the outside but inside I have nothing, I don't know if I can keep that promise, Marlena. Not because I don't want to but because I don't think I *can!*"
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking . . .
Marlena turned out of John's arms, pointing her finger
out somewhere in the
distance. "Beyond that ocean are mountains," she began,
"and to every
mountain there is a journey. Don't give that up, baby.
Life is about taking
chances . . . on who we fall in love with, on who we
marry, but in the end
every choice, every decision . . . it's all worth it.
Because you either
learn to live or learn from your mistakes, making new
ones to live. We've
both made a lot of mistakes in life John, our affair was
a mistake, but I
don't regret it because it brought me Belle . . . and
you," she whispered, as
she turned around again, both of them swaying gently.
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance . . .
"And what if I'm to afraid to even move without you by my side?" John questioned.
"Then be afraid. We all go through life afraid but we also still live it because there is no other choice. And don't let me leaving you, make your heart bitter, because there is such a huge world out there and maybe there is someone out there waiting for you. And if you ever need me, just look up into the heavens and I will be there. I'll be by your side through *everything* and I will always be right here," she cried, placing her hand over his heart.
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their years and wonder)
(Where those years have gone) . . .
"But if I love, does that mean I am forgetting you?" John
asked innocently.
"No honey, of course not. It just means you are moving on . . . I mean you married me and you never once forgot about Isabella . . . I just don't want you to look back in twenty years and wonder where your life went. Life is just a game and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but like every game there is always a second chance at playing. Take that chance, see what life has to offer the second time around . . ."
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance . . .
"You're amazing you know that?" John smiled. "You are
the most beautiful,
courageous, giving, loving person I have ever met and
heaven will be lucky to
have you," John said quietly, feeling as moist tears
began to form in his
eyes.
"No, more like I was lucky for ever having you. John, you always say I'm the one who gave *you* everything, but do you even know how much you have changed my life? You have taught me to give faith and love a fighting chance, how to move forward when I felt forced to stay in the past . . . without you I never would have had our daughter or never know just what true love felt like so you may say I gave you everything, but John, you gave me just as much if not more."
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their years and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone) . . .
"So I guess you could say, I made you dance?" he smiled.
Marlena laughed lightly, nuzzling his neck. "Yeah, you definitely did and now I'm not going to let you sit there and just waste away. I love you baby, I love you so much and I'm not leaving your mind and soul so if you need me just talk and I'll be there to listen. I'm so sorry," she cried as she felt his arms wrap tighter around her.
"I love you too Marlena, more everyday and right now all I want to to do is dance with you in my arms," he whispered.
She nodded her head as she laid it on his shoulder, her arms strung tightly over his neck as they flowed with the wind once more before it was to late and before an angel found her wings to heaven.
I hope you dance . . .
