One Wish
by:

I watched the tears gather in her eyes and after a moment, slide down the curve of her cheeks. She turned her head and the blank stare focused on me. Her voice rasped low and guttural, almost inhuman. She asked for water. I felt my own mouth dry and swallowed unsuccessfully. I held back a choke, pressing it down with my tongue and shook my head. Back and forth, no, no, no. She pleaded and her face contorted in thousands of lines. I straightened my own lips into a hard line and continued the movement. No, no, no, no. Finally, she fell back with one last tear.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, careful not to make any sound. A shudder pushed itself through my shoulders and I blinked rapidly.

She was at peace.