The Last Storm

 She sat in her favorite spot on the porch

of the weathered beach house, the salty air

sticking to her skin, the oncoming storm

blowing sand across her bare feet. The

crisp envelope bent beneath her fingers

as she laid it on her lap, and reached

for the pen in her dress pocket...

Anne wrote his name on the envelope, then stopped to re-read his letter, wanting to be sure that she hadn’t misunderstood his intent. He had asked her to be his wife! In an utterly romantic and old-fashioned way.

Dearest Anne, the letter began, ending with a profession of love and a request for her to become his wife. She still could scarcely believe it.

My Darling Richard, she began, then telling him all the reasons that she loved him and wanted to become his wife.  She could have called him, but a letter sent deserved a letter answer,  she reasoned.

The storm was moving closer now, and she wanted to be sure that she got her letter to the postbox before the carrier came, so she hurriedly sealed the envelope,  rose from her favored seat on the porch, and walked it to the postbox, raising the flag to let the postman know there was something inside….something very important inside…..

It was thundering and lightening in earnest now, so she went inside, and poured herself a glass of white wine to enjoy. She watched thru the window until the postman had picked up her letter and it was safely in his bag. Now she could relax.

She poured a second glass of wine, and turned on some music to drown out the sounds of the storm. The rains came down in such a deluge it sounded as though the house was being flooded, and Anne was scared. It rained thru dinner, and until bedtime. Anne hated storms at bedtime. Things always seemed worse in the dark of the night.

Anne wondered about the letter, and how far it had gotten on its trip to Richard. It was her last thought before she turned out the light and sleep overtook her. …..her last thought…..

Three days later, Anne’s letter was delivered to Richard. The fact that it was after her death in the storm made it all the more poignant for him.