Chapter 63 End

Years passed quickly.
I couldn't bear the numbness of my arm because of Annika lying here. We just stayed in the hammock and the long conversation we had earlier we just fell asleep. It was night but she was still asleep. It was very quiet and I almost always looked around the paddy field to see if anyone was coming, there were also poles here in the paddy field where the old couple used to live and now they have passed away, I had always planned to remove the paddy field so I decided buy this land, that was my dream and Annika and I planned then.
That we would stay in a province when our children had their own families. Too fast. In an instant we have grandchildren, we are called grandparents, then in a short time we will be taken, our children will be left behind, and they will be the elders, they will disappear from the world and their children will be left behind. Going around in circles. But even so, I still can't forget what happened then, right here, here I had the courage to approach her again. I was startled when Annika moved, she was already looking at me.
"Are you stupid?" she asked.
Still nothing has changed.
She is still rude, so her grandchildren are afraid of her.
"Will they visit here?" I asked then she left beside me.
We are both old, we have stopped working because we want to have time with each other.
"They're going to visit. What did your children say?"
"They said they were going. No one said when," I whispered then looked away.
How can I prepare meals if I don't know when they will arrive.
"Who will inherit those? Eh, aren't you like that too? You just go home or go without notice." She turned her back on me and then opened the door of the house.
"Those are still tomorrow, let's eat," she said continuing to walk.
I could clearly see how difficult it was for her to walk. She got sick and it was almost continuous, she just cried that I almost didn't know what to do, what medicine to take and how to calm her down. That she just wants to go away so she doesn't feel pain.
But because I am selfish, I can see her that way. I try to convince myself that my wife can still do it. I don't want to be left behind, I'd rather be the first but I also don't want to hurt her. In the paddy field itself and we just left a hut at the end, the well was still there, but I built a house here so that our grandchildren could go on vacation.
It's also rare because we go to the mansion, it just depends on when there is a party, now there are almost no people there, we have our own family and all our parents and nothing... that's how life is , something will be lost even if it is not ready. The Ficarros are still guarding there, because our parents were buried there as well.
"You don't really want to write anymore?" I asked in the middle as she made the bed.
We had just finished eating and it looked like she was going to read or rub my hands.
"Aidan will continue," she said then opened the bedroom window and then sat on the bed next to me.
"Why are you talking like that?"
"Just a word, Zeke, as long as it doesn't happen just don't cry," she said with a smile.
She wrote her life. She had a diary before, that's why so many of her novels are spread in different places in libraries.
Writing was easy for her in fact, she has had difficulty since she wrote her life, from when she was little until now. Now it is Aidan who will continue in case Annina reaches the end of her life.
"You forgot something," I said to it with a sigh.
She lost her attention at the window and her frown now. It approached me and then punched my arm lightly.
"What's that?"
I was eighty-three, while she was already eighty. But she became more forgetful than I was. I'm scared because maybe when he wakes up he won't know me anymore.
"It's our 40th wedding anniversary." I frowned then lay down on the bed.
"Stupid, it's still tomorrow, you're really very artistic, what?" My eyes literally widened.
Is it still tomorrow?
"Now it's—"
"Tomorrow Zeke! That's why your children and grandchildren will come tomorrow!" its cry hit the pillow in my face.
I retaliated with a laugh and then nailed it. Open shovel. Seriously, I think I'm getting older, but sometimes he really forgets. I felt her lying on my chest, her hair was still thick but it was short, even though I was reluctant for her to shorten it. I just combed her hair mixing white with black, using my fingers then I noticed it turned to me.
"Let's extend the 50th anniversary, ah?" I told her, she just laughed.
"A little more patience, dear. Then let's go together—"
"Let's go, Zeke. Let's just go," she said softly as I repeatedly nodded.
"Are you tired already?" I asked politely and she nodded slowly.
"Can you still do it?" She nodded again and then closed her eyes.
"I'm still strong," she said weakly then hugged me tightly.
I felt the hot thing fall on my chest, she was crying, she was crying again. I just let her go and at the same time I stopped combing her hair. Back then, she fell asleep quickly every time she moved her hair. But now, I feel like I don't want to. I was afraid that when she fell asleep because of my combing, she would disappear forever. Because I knew she was tired.
"I love you, remember that. I know you're strong, Annika, but you have the right to get tired, you have the right to rest," I whispered then she nodded.
We just hugged each other. I can control my own hand to comb her. But that's just the way it is, after we congratulated each other on our fortieth anniversary as a couple. She couldn't breathe anymore.
My wife is gone, Annika is gone. Even though fainting was forced to reach for the cell phone, even though it was hard to breathe I calmed down and kept in mind that everything was fine. That it might be his time.
[Pa? Why are you still awake? We'll continue there later, ah? Azra will just chase but her husband will be the first, I already told Gale and Adi,] Aidan said softly that I just smiled.
I slowly raised my hand to comb Annina. Comb the woman completely took me, it was lying on my chest but I could not hear her heartbeat. Nothing really.
"Your mama," I began and tried not to gasp, my mouth joined, but not my tears.
[What's up?] I just smiled then gradually felt chest pain.
But they need to know, because they are our children. "Go on with what your mom is writing, Aidan, even if it's just that."
[Pa? What's happening? Mama?] It said loudly and heard the door slam.
"Your mama is gone. She's tired. I don't think you'll be able to wait for tomorrow either. I-I can't either—" My body finally stiffened.
I was numb and wanting my breath. But instead of being scared, I had to face it. Slowly, but even more painfully I drew in my last breath. I finally let go of the cell phone as I heard my son's voice shouting our name. In an instant, I was back in the past. Ever since I was a child and watched my wife cry, go to school at the same time, tease, and fight.
I saw them mommy, smiling as if picking me up. But before I could close my eyes, I saw her. My smiling wife reminds me not to be afraid, the dream is over and this is the real reality. The Death of a person is the painful truth. What happened to me during the time we were living was like a dream.
[Ma? Pa? Can you hear me? We're going there, you're still together, ah?] I heard last and I'm sure they're already crying.
Our children. I don't know why they are crying even though I can see my wife smiling. Maybe the same thing happened to me when my parents disappeared. I'm closing my eyes all the time.
The last time I combed my wife Annika's hair, I had nothing more to ask for. Maybe, that's all it really is.
This is probably the point referred to at the end of our story.