[ WP ] A world where soulmates die at the same time

There was that old scent of wasting bodies and fleeting memories. The air felt thick as it does for departure. At the bed the creases made long shadows and it was comfortable and for that she was at least thankful. 
 
 
 He was dying and his face was pained and hurt. The lines on his face were deep and they sunk more as the life evaporated. They were alone then and but for the doctor outside, they would be alone for a long time. She would be alone for a long time. 
 
 
 Hate and discrimination had marred their lives. She stroked his hair and felt how thin and wispy it was. Long ago it was thick and full. That was back when they were threatened and people hurled insults among other things. 
 
 
 Those who were n't soulmates were not meant to be. They had defied it then. There is a strength of youth and when it is multiplied with love, there is hardly anything that can stop it. Nothing could have stopped them then. But the consequences of then had caught up to now. 
 
 
 She was crying. Everything was dry, it always seems so dry in death, and her tears vanished into the sheet. He held her hand and turned his head. The respirator made a noise of overwork. 
 
 
 `` Do n't,'' he managed. 
 
 
 `` I should be with you,'' she said. 
 
 
 Grief was something diminished in this world. Its potency had come at her and she could not bare it anymore. 
 
 
 `` You must,'' he said. `` You must live.'' 
 
 
 She squeezed his hand. There was a comfortable silence and memories danced their swan song, the last time they would be untainted and truly, completely joyous. 
 
 
 She remembered their youth and life together. The question of soul mates always arose. Deep down they knew they were not soul mates. Deep down they believed that all to be bullshit. What had grown, so subtly among the turmoil of society, was something more than a soul mate. There were no words then and there were no words now. 
 
 
 She looked up at him. His eyes were closed and her heart raced and those thoughts took their bowed and went away in the forever of mourning. 
 
 
 `` Not yet,'' he said. `` Just thinking. Dreaming a bit.'' 
 
 
 `` I love you,'' she said. 
 
 
 `` Me too.'' 
 
 
 There was quiet but it was n't really quiet. Who can really convey what that time is, what really goes on? They sat in silence but the bonds of a long life worked, and there was a battle of emotion as they slowly pulled apart. A chaos of fear and sadness gripped them both and a silent noise, the shriek of imminent loss, pierced their ears and went into their thoughts. There was no quiet. But it was quiet. 
 
 
 `` I think it's time,'' he said then. `` I know I always have to ask permission.'' 
 
 
 `` You fool,'' she said but she was crying and laughing. 
 
 
 `` The dreams are n't just dreams now. I'm slipping. Sleeping. It's really something you should see.'' 
 
 
 `` I should,'' she said. 
 
 
 `` You must live,'' he said. `` You will see it one day. It's coming now though. I think I have to go.'' 
 
 
 She looked down and the tears fell clear and dry. Her nose was dry. Everything was dry. She nodded her head. 
 
 
 `` Go,'' she said. 
 
 
 It happened like how it often does. He closed his eyes and they remained closed. There was no announcement but for her heart breaking suddenly and then she squeezed him and he would not respond. 
 
 
 `` No! No! *NO*!'' 
 
 
 The doctor came in and he was not trained in comfort. It was rare that non-soulmates were together. It was all new to him. 
 
 
 She continued on and looked at him and though he was peaceful, her world was shattered and gone in a way that would never come back. It was all bullshit they had thought when they were young. Now she thought it was completely true. She felt as if she too was dead.
