This is a prologue to a story I hope to write one day. It sort of snuck up on me as I was getting ready to leave work today.

They called today, from the dress shop.
I know, I shouldn’t have done it, but I went ahead and picked up your dress.
I stared at it for a long time-I could even imagine you wearing it.
You looked so beautiful.
So perfect.
You wore the same smile
-the smile that you gave me when you said goodbye.

I hung it in the closet. It’s there, you know....just in case.
I remember when you first told me about it.
You were so proud. So excited!
I didn’t really understand, until I saw it today
At once, I understood that glimmer I saw when you first told me about it.
It was the same gleam that you had when you lay in my lap.
The night you smiled and said goodbye.

I wear your ring now-however could I send it back?
You were so excited that night.
I had never seen you look so happy as the day we picked them out
It was the greatest day I have ever known.
I traded mine
for a silver ribbon,
not unlike the ruby ribbons that fell over my wrists
when I held you
The night you smiled and said goodbye.

I cancelled the flowers today.
I remember how pleased you were, with their colors and arrangement
It was the hardest call I’ve ever made.
They tried to demand I pay
Then I told them how
How beautiful you were
Lying in my arms
Red ribbons spreading over my wrists
The night you smiled and said goodbye.

It was so quiet
I never would have guessed what had just happened.
But you crumpled
And I followed
They ran
And I held you in my arms
Red ribbons spreading over my wrists,
You smiled and said goodbye