Weekend Freewrite: The Checklist

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She felt compelled to pick up the pencil. When she did, it started... Thoughts upon thoughts rushing out like tidal waves, ready to conquer the space of that blank sheet of paper laid before her.

The more she wrote, the more she knew. She couldn't stop, and it almost felt like the pencil had a mind of its own. She found herself drafting a checklist of some sort, braving past her fears to imagine.

"Yes, this... Oh, and this, too. This would be good. This, I like this..."

It was the start of a beautiful summer, only that it didn't feel that way to her. She just lost her best friend, her husband of 20 years to a heart attack. He went to bed one night and didn't get up. He was gone, just like that.

She remembered that night quite vividly, he made milk for the both of them, and left some for their old cat, Whiskers. They were talking about a close friend who almost got sacked for having a sudden outburst in the office.

“Did you hear that Mike called the company president an asshole?" he said, trying his best to mimic what he'd imagine to be the expression and the tone of their dear friend's voice. He was pretty close. They had a good laugh.

He gave her a peck on the cheek that night as he retreated to bed while she finished off the dishes.

Life is fragile and fleeting. Indeed.

"He would've loved this list... I know he would..." , her hand shivered and she tried to hold her tears.

James had always been supportive of her dreams and desires, but the busyness of life had dampen the many, many things she wanted to pursue. This time, she wanted to make it count.

Once she was done with the checklist, she quickly went online and booked a one way trip to Amsterdam, the place where James was born. She had longed to visit the little village he grew up in, but they had never manage to make time for it.

"Wait for me, baby... Wait for me... I'm coming for you..."

As she went back to her checklist, a new point with a different handwriting was added to it at the bottom.

It read; 'Fix the garage door'

She looked up and a gentle breeze brushed through her hair, she wasn't a tad bit afraid. It almost felt like he was in the room looking at her.

"Alright, honey... I'll remember to do that before I leave for the trip. That door has been acting up for the longest time so maintenance is required, clearly. Thanks for the reminder..."

She knew how James loved his garage. It was his favorite place.

She looked out the window as the warmth of the sun touch her skin. She felt an unexplainable familiarity, like she was wrapped up in an embrace.

She knew she was loved.

art and flair courtesy of @PegasusPhysics


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