Farewell my Love!
"Good Night! Good Night!,
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
That I shall say good night
till it be morrow!"
William Shakespeare
"Romeo and Juliet"
Act II, Scene ii
(for the Ps's)
"She's gone!", he murmured, mostly to himself.He stood just outside the open garage door and watched her going down the drive, turn left toward the mouth of the cul-de-sac and left again onto the development's main street. Then, behind the bordering pines, another glimpse of the final left turn and a final one as she topped the hill and disappeared.
"She's really gone, and, no, she won't be coming back. She's with another guy now, someone younger, stronger and more able to deal with her eccentricities. Someone who can give her the attention she craves and deserves, while she's still young enough to enjoy it. Someone who will keep her satisfied."
He had found her late in his life, young, spirited, and beautiful, although somewhat more extroverted that the ones before, and at times noisy and loud; always demanding his full and concentrated attention whenever in her presence.
Steve brushed back a tear and continued staring at break in the trees where he last saw her.
He knew it had to be; knew she would leave one day; knew it when he first laid eyes on her. Knew it but would not admit it, not even to himself, but he courted her anyway, he loved her as no other and eventually brought her home. But it was too late; many years too late.
She was a trophy, but his advancing age, deterioration of stamina and dimming eyesight combined to limit the activity level and subsequently their relationship. Then one day he came to realize that he had become afraid to take her out in front of her friends; afraid he would be seen as the old man he had become; an old man now unable to give her the attention she deserved. He had lost his nerve and his confidence; core elements of their relationship. As bad as he hated to admit it, he had known she would be leaving; would be happier in her new life.
"So now she's gone". He stepped back into the garage, closed the door and walked slowly back into the house; sat down at the keyboard:
"
"She's Gone!", He mumbled quietly to himself, "She'll be happier with him, and he'll be good to her."
"Damn, I'm really gonna' miss that bike!"
