I watched him walk away with tear-filled eyes

His tears in no way, however, could ever equal mine

He had arrived early, my doorbell’s chimes

Ushering in his presence

With heartfelt remorse, he related to me the dreaded news

It was Al, he had been shot in the head,

Twice, cut down in his prime

While serving in the line of duty

Instantly, family members gathered around me

Seeking to comfort and console

They pried my numb fingers from the doorknob

I slumped to the floor clutching at my heart

Tears streaming down my face

There were no words to take away the pain

No actions could possibly comfort my desolation

They made all the arrangements

I was unable to move

Stricken by the reality of it all

My one and only was no longer

Come back to me, I screamed to the darkness

But there was no answer, no, not a sound

Only echoes of a night gone so terribly wrong

Stricken, I couldn’t erase the memories

That came flooding back to me like a snapshot

Al and I getting married, Our first anniversary

Our first baby, Our first house

Working, building, living, laughing, loving together

As only a couple in love could

It was late winter, several inches of snow had

Gathered in the graveyard

I had gone to visit Al for the last time

They found me lying there just in front of his tomb

Dead as a hammer

Al’s fragile, lonely and brokenhearted widow

Snuffed out at the age of 22