Until Your Last Farewell

A Drama Introduction: A husband sits by the bedside of his dying wife and pours out his anguish and grief. He refuses to leave until her last farewell, that is until she dies. Then and only then will he gently and quietly go. The drama opens with the husband by his wife’s bed in ICU. He begs her to stay with him, yet he knows her death is imminent. He recalls the wonderful years they shared together. The years ahead will be hard without his loving wife and he cries out in agony. Stay with me, my Darling, please stay with me, Don’t leave me alone, Without your love, my hopes are gone. Stars like wax candles will fade in the night. I’ll always savor the great times we had, The good ones not bad, More triumphs and joy than the sad, Without you, I’ll fall prey to life’s grave harms. He feels it difficult to bear the pain and fear that grip his grieving heart. Weeping bitterly, he sinks to the floor on bent knees in agony. Moments pass before he is able to stand and continue his sad soliloquy. True is my love or there is none, Surely my life will never be the same again, My agony can’t by others be known. Maladies inflict so much pain, Leaving will pose questions of why but no answers, Lest heaven imparts its explanation. He slips into a period of silent meditation. Needing comfort and peace, he searches deep for something that might bring solace to his heart. Suddenly, he begins to hear, as if by a heavenly choir, an old familiar hymn. He bows his head and begins to pray the words of the hymn, “Abide with Me.” Then the room is deathly quiet. Knowing time is short, he vows again to stay until the end…until her last farewell. Pathos hangs in the air like a heavy pall of darkness. All the medical equipment seems so out of place now. A dead and ominous silence fills the room. My Love, I’ll stay until your last farewell. Then and only then will I leave Broken, but gently and quietly I’ll go. She slowly opens her eyes and smiles sweetly. Then she closes them for the last time. He leans over and kisses his faithful bride. Struggling to speak, he says “Goodbye, my Love” and releases her hand. Lovingly he pulls the sheet over her head and moves toward the door. He glances back one last time, enters the hallway, and walks out into what seems like an empty space. As he walks down the long hall, he hears a song that’s flooding his broken heart. It’s the song he heard before…”Abide with Me.”