Michelle sat there staring out the window at the distant harbor lights, for a moment she could smell the cool air that came from the sea. The shadows on the water seemed to create images that beckoned to her. They demanded her full attention. How she longed to reach out and touch those lights, to feel the sand and water beneath her feet. She wanted to feel the breeze blowing through her hair, she could almost taste the salt water on her lips. At that moment she knew she would miss him far more that she ever thought possible. The heavy drip, drip, drip of the rain drops falling in chorus on the window pane suddenly had demands on her attention. She realized she was alone, she felt the emptiness invade her. The loneliness had crept back to haunt her yet again.

The ringing of the phone startled her as she reached for it in the dark. Even before she answered it, she had a feeling deep inside of her that brought a panic that began to rise up inside of her. It was Nicole, her husband had died the same year as Michelle’s. Nicole had suffered a great deal, George had suffered for years with cancer. Michelle camped out at Nicole’s side many times throughout George’s illness. Michelle’s own grief of losing Warren took back burner during those times. Warren had died while on a hunting expedition in the snow covered mountains of Canada.