PREVIOUSLY

Tea's back arched slightly. Todd, his tears flowing freely now, put his lips firmly on hers. He felt her gasp slightly and a small whoosh of air and, his mouth on hers, her last, soft, sighing breath belonged to him. Her head lolled into the crook of his arm and Todd's anguished cry echoed throughout the darkening town.

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Part 12: Requiem

He looked down at his beloved wife's peaceful face, beautiful even in death, as he lay her onto the stretcher, a Sleeping Beauty clothed in white. He pulled the blanket higher, up to her chin. He gazed down at her pale, gaunt face, sharply defined by the harsh city lights that filtered in through the window. But it wasn't really her anymore. It wasn't Tea. It wasn't the vibrant, luminous woman he knew. It wasn't the woman with the brilliant mind, the loving, gracious heart and the beautiful and gentle soul.

You were the love for certain of my life
You were simply my beloved wife
I don't know for certain how I'll live my life
Now alone, without my beloved wife
My beloved wife

She was dead. Her mind, her heart, her soul--all of it--gone. All that was left was a frail, sunken body that used to contain a precious treasure. A treasure irreplacable and more cherished to him than gold, than riches, than expensive clothes and a fancy home. He drew a shaky breath and cursed the body, the shell, that had failed his wife in the thirtieth year of her life.

...A depth so deep,
Into my grief
Without my beloved soul I renounce my life
As my right
Now alone, without my beloved wife
My beloved wife

The musical globe was still clutched in her hand and he gently pulled it from her fingers as the paramedics took her away; as she left the penthouse for the final time.
He turned the globe upside down and wound it. The first sweet strains of "Rock-A-Bye Baby" broke the deafening silence. His mind drifted back to the day, now almost six months ago, when Starr had given her the gift. How sad, and yet, how happy Tea had been, knowing that she was the mother of a beautiful little girl that she'd always dreamed of having, but whom she knew would never remember her.

My love is gone, she suffered long
In hours of pain
My love is gone, now my suffering begins
My love is gone, would it be wrong if I should
Surrender all the joy in my life
Go with her tonight?

With a cry of rage, he whipped the globe at the wall, watching in almost slow motion as it struck the wall, sending shards of glass and liquid and pink and blue sparkles flying in all directions. The woman in the rocker cradling the baby lay amongst the dripping glass and sparkles, still smiling as though nothing had happened.

My love is gone, would it be wrong if I should
Just turn my face away from the light
Go with her tonight?

The silence was overpowering. Todd flicked the switch on his CD player and hit 'random', making sure the volume wasn't loud enough to wake Noelle who was sleeping in the crib across the room. He sat back in a leather chair and closed his eyes as a familiar tune floated into the air.

All alone I didn't like the feeling
All alone I sat and cried
All alone I had to find some meaning
In the centre of the pain I felt inside

All alone I came into this world
All alone I will someday die
Solid stone is just sand and water, baby
Sand and water, and a million years gone by

I will see you in the light of a thousand suns
I will hear you in the sound of the waves
I will know you when I come as we all will come
Through the doors beyond the grave

Todd's fists clenched and his fingernails dug into the leather upholstery of the chair as the lyrics of the song spoke of all he was feeling. The song, the CD, had been one of Tea's favourites. She must have left it in the player.

All alone I heal this heart of sorrow
All alone I raise this child
Flesh and bone he's just bursting towards tomorrow
And his laughter fills my world and wears your smile

Todd flicked the switch of the player off and the penthouse was silent once more.
He stood over Noelle's crib and saw that she was awake. She kicked her little feet joyfully as he lifted her out of the crib and held her tightly against him, nestling his face in her thin, wispy dark hair, smelling the wonderful scent that babies have.
Todd slid her into the tiny pink coat with the white fur hood--Todd hadn't wanted Tea to buy pink but, since Noelle had been born with virtually no hair, Tea insisted that she didn't want her daughter to be mistaken for a boy and so he had bought it, despite its outrageous price--and zipped it slowly. He tucked Noelle gently into the stroller and pain and grief gripped his heart and held steadfast as she grinned and gurgled happily at him as if to tell him that it would all be all right; her deep expressive eyes--so much like her mother's--not letting him, even for a moment, forget his wife.
He pushed the stroller through the elevators, down the hallway, out the doors--ignoring Eddie's small sad smile--and into the dark streets, circling the block around their apartment building. The crisp evening air helped to clear his head a little and he somehow found the strength to speak.
He told Noelle about how he and Tea met in a courthouse one rainy morning, and how they were married without even realizing the unfathomable depths their feelings toward each other would reach. He told her about how long it took for them both to recognize the feelings they had. He told her about the day Tea discovered she was pregnant, and the plans they had made for their baby. He spoke of the sacrifice she had made and how, for Noelle's life, she had died. He told her how much Tea loved her family. He told her of the letters, the sad but beautiful letters Tea had left for Noelle; a legacy that would live on long after she herself was gone.
And he told her, once the whole story of their acquaintance, loyalty, friendship and finally love was said, how Tea would be watching them and waiting for them and loving them.
Always and forever.

THE END

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