In the hospital room, I was holding my wife’s hand when all the machines around her started making beep sounds. I could see a nurse coming in and calling for a doctor. They asked me to step aside to use a defibrillator. I stepped back with my eyes still on her. I started seeing all the images of her in my eyes from the day I met her when we both were 18 till her 50th birthday, the day she collapsed a couple of days ago. I somehow know that she is going to leave me at that moment. Amara passed away in front of my eyes due to heart failure. My entire life has been with her, my success started after marrying her at the age of 21.We have seen everything in our life together. Now her absence made my life void.

Its been 20 days after the funeral, our kids have returned to their respective life’s. I felt that I can’t take care of my business anymore. I have appointed my subordinate as CEO and took me out from daily involvement in the business. After sorting everything out, I now don’t know what I need to do. After living alone for a few days in the house I lived with Amara I realised I can’t stay in this house as it’s making me realise her absence. I moved into an apartment near our house. Days went by and kids visited me from time to time. Everyone around me is surprised to see that I am handling the loss well. But only I know the truth. Days and nights passed by and I just sit there waiting for them to pass doing nothing.

My son suggested I pick a hobby. I went into my garage and took out my old guitar that I learned to play for Amara. I started spending my days with the guitar. I sometimes walk to the nearby park with guitar and spend a few hours there. I usually sit at the bench facing the lake where me and Amara used to sit. But today I see someone has already occupied the bench. I was passing through when the woman on the bench called me out ‘hey, do you play the guitar?’ pointing to the guitar. I just saw her but didn’t respond back and walked away to the other bench nearby.

The next day too, she was sitting at the same place and that left me no choice to pass through her. While I am heading to the next bench, she called me out again ‘Are you a musician?’. I turned back and gave her a small smile as bye but didn’t respond back. When I made myself comfortable at the nearby bench, I returned my attention to her. She must be around 50 years old; she has a wine bottle beside her and a glass in her hand. She is now lost in her thoughts watching the sunset. I returned back to my business, taking out my guitar.

The next day as well the bench was occupied by her. Today rather than passing her I took a nearby bench behind her. Hours passed by and by the time I got up to head home, I saw that she is still there. I started going my way but then looked back as it looked like her face is titled to aside and it looked like she is unconscious from behind. I thought of minding my own business but my humanity kicked in and I felt I should at least check on her. I walked to the bench and stood before her. She is actually sleeping and by the time I started walking back, she dozed off and her head got hit to the bench. A smile crossed on my face involuntarily, she looked around rubbing her head and saw me standing there. Before she said anything, I walked out from there.

The next day when I was having my breakfast, I laughed out loud in the empty house remembering her face...