What would you say? What would you say to the person you loved the most in the world in the last 10 minutes of your life? If you could say anything, anything in the world, what would it be?
This question always reminds me of one of the final scenes in Shakespeare’s famed Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is in the tomb of his beloved, gazing over her, believing that she is dead. He says,
Eyes, look your last!
Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
A dateless bargain to engrossing death!
But wait one second there, Romeo. What would have happened if the poison wasn’t instantaneous? What if the good Friar had mixed it just a little too light and it took a bit of time to kick in? Say, 10 min? What would they have said to each other in that final 10 minutes?
How do you tell someone, someone you love so much that you would sacrifice your life to lay beside them forever in death, what is on your mind? What do you tell them?
Lifelong secrets?
The depth of your love for them?
Quote lyrics from your favorite love song?
This is a thought exercise, I understand that. I can’t sit here and say exactly what I would do, because I don’t know. I don’t know that anyone ever really knows until that situation is thrust upon them. But, I can guess. And my guess is that I would say…
Nothing.
Wait, wait, wait…hold on. I asked the question about what I would say, right?
I did. But, here’s the truth. I would say nothing at all. Do you know what I would do? I would look them in the eye and hold their gaze. Until the poison finally overtook me, my eyes ceased to function, and I could not see anymore.
Why?
There is a famous saying: “The eyes are a but a window to the soul.”
I believe that. Very much. The eyes speak volumes the mouth would never utter. I trust the eyes. They give away so many things. Sadness. Joy. Love. Vulnerability. Anger. Hurt. Despair. Happiness. All without needing to say anything or do anything. They are the window to which we can understand someone. Fully. Deeply.
Especially someone special.
The last 10 minutes of my life, I would look into my loved one’s eyes and imprint their soul onto mine. And take that with me.
Inner Ramblings... 