A translucent film draped over deteriorating, decaying bone,
A fine sheet of white barely covering the twisted mass of vein.
A shaking hand, straining to grasp the railing,
A trembling jaw her only betrayal of fear and anticipation.

Half a century ago, she traded adventure for his hand in hers,
The price of the ring was to bury her dreams.
Fear of flight and fear of change,
Meant they never left that sad, small town.

Chained to that house with all its familiar charm,
Wrapped in his arms she forgot her desires.
When she awoke on tear-sodden cotton pillow sheets,
She told him she had nightmares - they were impossible dreams.

Every year on the last day of classes,
She told her students to follow their hearts.
She never told them she was a hypocrite,  
Just watched, as they wrote their aspirations on a lined paper sheet.

She never went away, she held him till the end,
He was the one who left her first, slipped away so quietly.
Lips on her forehead, hand on her heart,
Whispering I love you's until his voice broke, and he was gone.

One year and one month passed, and on their wedding date,
She boarded a plane with the ticket he left her.
His heavy ring upon her finger,
His message held in her fragile hands:

I'm sorry that I kept you here, but I'm a selfish man,
The world could have needed you, but darling, so did I.
I was afraid of flying, but I'm in heaven now,
So I'll come with you around the world, I'll never leave your side.