This is my Christmas gift to Marshall Wayne
Its my hope that you all enjoy this lil story...
Marshall and Athena's minds journey
He took her hand into his and motioned for her to lye down next to him on the meadows welcoming wild tundra
"close your eyes" he whispered as he took her hold of her hand ever so tightly...
she blindly followed him into the abyss that was his minds eye...
"here we take the road less traveled...Michael awaits our arrival"
"I'm afraid"
"hold no fear in your heart, I know that I hold none such in mine"
"but Marshall.." Athena tugged at his arm pulling him back if not just a little bit.
"we're going much to far"
"we must follow the path less we fail our own hearts. Let me show you my truth Athena...trust in this, trust in me. I have faith enough for we two..."
"its not that I don't have faith enough Marshall...its my heart. Its been weakened, broken...shattered into a million pieces when I witnessed the life leave the eyes of my son...I'm sorry, I know that its the same for you"
"it is...but that is precisely why I brought you here...to see them for yourself..."
"I know how badly you desire me to see what it is that you do but I'm not so certain..."
"did you or did you not reveal to me that your deepest desire was to die in the arms of one that would love your heart forever?"
She smiled in spite of her obvious misgivings... "yes Marshall, but not exactly today, besides you're a tad bit too young for me"
he laughed and rolled his eyes "I didn't mean me...Athena? you're mind is always in the gutter isn't it?"
"well..."
"just follow me a little bit further, keep hold of my hand..." she complied..albeit very reluctantly until at long last they indeed approached the gates to all that is to be, standing eventually directly at the towering white, beautiful gates...
the right gate lent itself to a slight opening, left ajar to those brave enough to venture in...
an open invitation to the both hurt souls humbled before its immense stature
Athena was taken aback emotionally...losing her son to deaths passing had nearly extinguished her life...a crushing death by sadness had brought her here once before...
yet she preservered because in her mind if Marshall could extend himself far beyond the pain of his own loss well then, so to could she...
In what seemed like both a singular moment and a whole lifetime past, Michael the Arch Angel appeared before the twosome
"so you've come to gather a glimpse, yes?"
Marshall bodly spoke up "we have, and we humbly, most graciously thank you for the opportunity"
"here is my gift to you both"
For Marshall his mind was sent to a football game (University of Texas) A beautiful girl snuggled in a warm blanket next to Marshall, bracing herself from the cold, warmed by Marshalls love...
Sitting by his side, the spirit of Marshalls mother embracing her sons heart as the girl so in love with Marshall spoke these words:
For Athena, her mind was sent into a future , in a cottage, by the sea
there she found herself sitting by a roaring fireplace, securely held by a man clearly, madly in love with her
her sons spirit tightly embracing her heart when the man spoke these very same words to her:
"I could...I could love you
I could fall this very moment...here...with you securely in my arms
for a thousand different reasons I could fall
a thousand different ways
speak a million different words
none nearly defining the intent carried within my heart
I could choose to walk away now, before any chances are taken...
you could run away...dismiss my ambition
seek a path uncommon to me
we two could very well part
or I could allow the words to fall past my lips...
in doing so witness your imminent fall into my arms
moreover
into my life
forever
I could, with ease, seize the possibilities...all of which blaze in your eyes
burn beneath your touch
I could love you
I could...
I do...
I will love you forever
As I have in lifetimes passed"
They Awoke amongst the meadows swaying grasses...
both clearly moved by the emotional awakening that Michael had bestowed upon them...
(Marshall): "Now do you see what it is that binds us together in friendship Athena?"
She glanced over at her much younger, wiser friend "I do, I really do...its the gift of Hope Marshall...thank you"
he smiled knowingly
the both glanced back up at the clouds...
appreciative at Michaels heavenly gift.
Have a blessed and happy Holiday!
From my hand to yours,
Sawyer
Saint Andrews
