On My Deathbed

On My Deathbed

By: Ethan West

     "If it were to be that I was damned at birth I would beg you tell me the cause.  What caused me to be sentenced to death even before I had the power to breathe the sweet air of the world that had not yet exposed itself to my blind eyes?  

     Before I was even able to form thought I was doomed to die.  I am an elderly man, death is knocking at my doorstep and I am afraid.  Why was I brought into this world only to be ripped from it at the very instant I had grown accustomed to it's joys and sorrows.

     But my tired and desperate eyes hide truth even in their search for it.  For my life was a plague on myself.  I had seen nothing but pain and hurt.  Yet at the same time I am drawn to that miserable heaven, that delightful hell that was my life and I don't wish to relieve my grasp.

     I was a young man once, long ago it seems.  I saw, and became a child.  I learned, and became a boy.  I stood up, and became a teenager.  I loved, and became a man.

    Who was it who caught my love so, you might ask?  She was radiance all in herself, she was beauty and grace.  She held my heart with hands of silk and fashioned it into her own with the grace of an angel.  She was my everything, she was my only thing.

     I fell to her beauty but she did not fall to my charm for I was still but a teenager.  Somberly I look back on my foolish attempts to woo her into my arms.  My discontent went with any one person but her.  For even when I found another she stole away the light from their eyes that had led me to them into the first place.  All the while becoming more bright and beautiful while I stayed as I was, just a teenager.

     When she finally invited me into her heart it was as if I had stepped unwittingly into a void as deep and wonderful as the beauteous night sky looking down on the hatred of man with omniscient pity and simple grace.  But I was, just a teenager, unworthy to look upon such beauty.  So I shied away from what I had sought for so long, fear in my heart, and failure in my stride.

     It was then that I learned of a darker side to her beauty.  A deep secret that lured her to death in spite of the peace that seemed never-ending in her smile.  I saw it within tired eyes a plot to take her life.  I cursed at the hell I had thrown my love within and the turmoil it had caused my weak and pitiful soul.

     I could shy away no longer for my affection was great.  And her need was far greater.  We fell in love and the thoughts of suicide seemed to leave her smile.  Lost in the beauty of her eyes which shone brightly in mine.  All other thoughts were erased from the world in that moment and in many more moments to come.

     I proposed to her some five years later, and we were wed under the stars.  Within our kiss was hope, happiness, and a love that seemed to be never-ending.  She stared into my eyes as I stared equally into hers.  "I now pronounce you man and wife," I smiled, and so did she.  We turned to face our families who were applauding tearfully at the beautiful sight of love completed within the gentle vows of marriage.

     My heart lifted, I had found the one.  I felt something cold brush against my arm and I turned to face my bride.  Her eyes were full of tears, but they were not tears of joy.  I stared down to see a knife in her hand.  Her arm swung inward and I thrust my arm towards the blade.  Desperate to stop the act that her eyes had hidden so well.

     My heart had broken, in her eyes there were only two words written out for me to read.  "I'm sorry," my hand closed around the blade of the knife and..."

     I approached the man's bed quietly to remove the corpse.  No person had come to visit, but I could have sworn he had been talking aloud for the past several minutes.  Perhaps he was lonely, looking for anybody to tell his story to.

    I sighed as I pulled the sheet over his stiff face.  "Well old man," I said quietly.  "I guess your story was never meant to be told."

Author's Note

This was a sort of monologue turned short story. Hope you all like it!

Reviews

[Shelley Holt-Lowrey]

What a wonderful thing to read... LOVED the ending... Oh! The beginning and middle too... but that ending! WOW! Thank you. Favorite line:   She was my everything, she was my only thing. Says everything he felt in those nine words. Beautiful piece.

[BorealPoet]

Wow thank you so much! I'm really thrilled you enjoyed this thank you so much again for reading!

[Shelley Holt-Lowrey]

I have read some of your things before. I really enjoy reading short stories. Poetry is just not my baliwick - half the time it's over my head. Your stories are a change for this place, and you write well - so cool x2! Glad you are here. Sorry it has taken me a while to get round to my RR's. :)

[BorealPoet]

I understand the poetry thing it's not exactly the most popular form of writing out there. And thank you so much, don't mention it on the read requests I understand completely. I'm just glad you enjoyed my work :) thanks again for reading!

[mariah]

wow, this was so amazing! very well written and deep with emotion and meaning. i love your writting style in this story, you seem very wise. great job!

[BorealPoet]

Thanks! I'm really glad you liked it!

[mariah]

your welcome :P

[ShelWars]

Amazing, especially the wording and meaning. Well done!

[BorealPoet]

Thanks!

[ShelWars]

Your welcome! I love reviewing brilliant work!

[astronaut]

Excellent, and I love the opening line.
:)

[BorealPoet]

Thanks! :)

[∠( ᐛ 」..]

This story is amazing, but sad at the at same time. My favorite line was " I saw, and became a child. I learned, and became a boy. I stood up, and became a teenager. I loved, and became a man." The best line I ever read from a story. The ending gave me goosebumps.
Excellent job!
100/100

[BorealPoet]

Wow I'm thrilled that you enjoyed my work! Thanks again for reading roxast it's always a pleasure to hear from you!

[kublakhan27]

Not much else I can add to the comments already here...another good example of your knack for storytelling. XD

[BorealPoet]

lol thanks!

[kublakhan27]

No problem :)

[Dean Kuch®]

Chilling...quite a monologue if I may say so myself. I suppose the old man's suicidal bride decided to pay him a final visit. I found this frightening and surreal...
Write more like this. I love a good chill!

[BorealPoet]

lol the story I posted called "Excommunicated" may give you more of those chills if you want them... just saying. Anyways thanks for reading man it's always a pleasure to hear from ya!

[Dean Kuch®]

My pleasure entirely...

[Shannon]

Wonderful! So, his wife killed herself? Why?

[BorealPoet]

Good question ;)

[kt.i.suppose]

I loved it. It really flowed well, I really enjoyed the emotion you poured into it.

[BorealPoet]

Thanks!

[Helen Crutchett]

A well written story that flowed well from your pen. Held my interest fervently from the good beginning until the fatal end and the very sad last paragraph. Good job!

[BorealPoet]

Thanks! I'm really thrilled you enjoyed my work thank you so much for reading! It's always a pleasure to hear from you!