Exits and Entrances
By Kelly Hill
Author's Notes:Since hints were dropped some time back that the series would end with the 'end of John's life', and before anyone starts screaming, this is NOT necessarily a bad thing ....
The time: many years in the future, perhaps on a colony in space, prosperous and serene. A house, warm and inviting, with a sky light that opens onto the silver stars. There's an old man reaching the end of his cycles, surrounded by his wife (gray among the raven tresses but still beautiful), children, grand- children and great grandchildren. His friends have come to bid him farewell -- a tall warrior with his equally tall son in attendance, the son's family waiting respectfully with them, and the warrior's lady, her impish grin not dimmed by the years, at his side. A tall serene blue presence chants blessings for her friend's journey to the next level, and a monarch, restored to his throne, leaves his entourage behind to pay his final respects.
The old man has lived a long and full life, and while he does not want to leave this one, his adventurous spirit is still very much alive and he does not fear the next step. He speaks to each of his friends in turn, smiling -- they fought and feuded, but when push came to shove, they stood together and survived everything the universe could throw at them. The old order was overthrown, and peace has a firm foothold in the galaxy. All of them helped to bring this about, and it is something to be proud of, a glow to take to the other side. And he was able to contact his long lost family at last, and his father went to his end knowing he had not outlived his son after all.
He asks that his friends and family give him a moment alone with his wife, and as they file out, he caresses his wife's face, murmuring words of love, words that have been repeated many times over the cycles, but which she never tires of hearing. It took a long time for her heart to accept them, but once it did, she soaked them in like a sponge, and there is an ache knowing she will never hear them again from him.
She sees him tire, closes his eyes gently, and tells him to sleep, and waits as the breathing becomes more shallow then fades totally. Tears form in her eyes, but they do not fall -- his face is so peaceful, so happy, that she cannot be sad. She smiles and kisses him one last time, then goes out to their friends to ask them to join her in celebrating his life and his love.
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances ... "
--William Shakespeare, As You Like It