Her eyes opened and they reflected the intense concentration she was under. Her words were almost angry, "Do you think I care! Don't you get it?"
Her eyes searched mine and with emotional fervency she said, "I love you Elon! There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you!"
I swallowed with emotion even as I felt tears sheet down the sides of my face. I reached a bloody hand up toward her face and she pressed her cheek into it lovingly.
"When did you know?" I asked.
"Somewhere in between you rubbing my fingers to keep me from peeing all over the place, because I was too stupid to just use the restroom and you masterfully leading me on the dance floor in the best experience of my life."
Her eyes were probing as she asked, "Do you love me Elon?"
"Yes! Somewhere in between holding your hair back while you puked into the sink of the men's restroom and imagining where your birthmark could be."
She smiled radiantly as tears of her own fell, but there was tiredness behind her smile. Her energy was fading fast, but she'd done enough and I started to take over for her in the healing process. She'd saved my life.
She looked at me puzzled as she felt pushed off from her task and I quickly assured her, "It's all right. I'll be okay now." I affirmed, even as her hands came away from the mottled scars on my stomach. She seemed to collapse against me and I pulled her down against me holding her tight.
"I'm so tired!" She whispered against my throat.
"Shhh. It's okay. Rest now Zora."
Just before I heard her breathing even out into sleep I heard her whisper, "I so wanted to experience making love with you tonight."
She was asleep now and I held her to me. I brought one of her hands up and kissed the pink enflamed scar that ran across the width of her palm. I couldn't stop crying. I had the gift of one more day to experience life with the woman I loved.
"Thank you God!" I whispered out as I nuzzled my face into her hair loving the smell of it and the feel of her against me. What more could one ask for than one more day with the one you loved?