Chapter Eight:

 

       Chance fell asleep in the chair that night. He had gotten wasted off of beer and whiskey. He slept for a full twelve hours, it was twelve in the afternoon. He had read half of the rest of the letters.

       It had been exactly a week since Sam had left and, Chance had not been out. He had not been out not once. Chance threw on his old faded blue jeans and, a flannel shirt.

       Chance jumped in his car and started to drive. He was going to the grocery store. As he was driving he caught the old oak tree that Sam and he loved so much. It hurt looking at it.

       Chance stopped the car as he drove into the parking lot of the mini mart. He put the car in park and made his way inside of the store. As he was walking with his shopping cart he noticed something.

       Everything inside of that store made him think og Sam. He didn’t know why but, it did. It didn’t really hurt but, it felt different. It felt as if he was sad she was gone, but was also at peace with it.

       Chance finished shopping and, checked out. He saw women with a bald head. He knew she had cancer. This made Chance thinks of Sam even more. He wondered how she was. He wondered if he should call. Would that be inappropriate? He brushed off the idea.

       As Chance was driving home he pulled into his drive way. He noticed that there was someone who was standing on his door step. He knew who it was. It was Sam’s former husband- Tommy.

       What in the hell was he doing here? Was he here to start trouble?

       Sam got out of his car and, Tommy slowly began to approach him. He had a strange look on his face. He looked as if he was sad.

       “Chance,” Tommy asked.

       “Yes sir, what may I ask is your reason for this visit,” Chance asked.

       “Just finishing some business” Tommy said.

       What in the hell was he talking about? “Finishing some business” what was this guy’s problem? Does he want trouble?

       “Business” Chance asked curiously.

       “Yes sir, I am here on behalf of Sam. To complete her final wishes,” Tommy said. This rolled of his tongue as if it where poison.

       Chance thought for a moment not processing it all at first. Then he knew, Sam was gone.

       “She passed?”

       “Yes unfortunately, she did” Tommy said. Chance noticed that he had an envelope and, a big piece of card board in his hand.

       “She wanted you to have this,” Tommy said handing over the envelope.

       “It’s a letter she wrote the day before she passed, and something that she painted. She told me to give it to you.”

       Chance took it from him. As he touched it, it felt bittersweet in his hands. She was gone and, all he had where memories and, a letter and a painting.

       “Okay well thank you,” Tommy said holding out his hand gesturing to shake Chance’s hand. “You’re a damn good man. She always loved you. I could see it in her eyes,” Tommy said Shaking Chance’s hand. Tommy walked away. Got into his car and drove away.

       Chance sat where he was standing in the dirt. He just sat there soaking in what he had just learned. She was gone.

       Chance opened the envelope. He took out a letter than was folded three times over.

       He started to read:

        Dearest Chance, I am writing this my last words to you and I’m gonna make it sweet and short. I am out of strength and, out of energy but never out of love. Your memory lives with me. I love you, I always have and, when my body has grown cold and, lifeless that will never change.

       I pray you will never forget me as long as you live. I pray one day we will be together and have out happily ever after.

       My final wishes is that you have this final letter and, a picture that I made for you. I painted that for you the day I left. It is of two hearts that are banded together by a thread. It is my interpretation of our love. I cannot fathom my life without you. In a way I will never live without you. You are always with me and, I want you to know that I am at peace. I want you to be at peace also.

       I want you to know I love you very much and, that has never changed. Darling please do not morn for me, I think we have both suffered enough. My suffering is over.

       My last words to you, always my love- Samantha

       The letter written in pink pen fell to the ground. Chance coughed his hands over both of his eyes allowing tears to fall. These where not tears of sadness, but tears of joy. Joy that she passed and, she will never suffer again.

       These past fifteen years have been hell for Chance. He was searching, searching for closure. One summer, one kiss his life Changed and, hearty broken forever. He found the closure he needed. Now he had the closure he needed to have. Chance seemed to getting on fine. He always held her close to him in his heart.