Member-only story
The Last Kiss
It was as if we were two like poles of a magnet
When opposite poles of a magnet get close enough, there is nearly no way to prevent them from being attracted enough to come together. The reverse is also true: no matter how hard we try, we can’t force like poles to come together. They repel each other with great force. I found a similar principle applied to my physical relationship to my husband.
I believe it was a Saturday in 2014 when I approached my husband in the living room with a wish to express my warm desire for him. Things had grown very cold between us since I had a stroke in 1999. I wanted to kiss him for more than the usual two or three seconds that was typical for a hello or goodbye kiss. This was not a greeting, but rather an interest in expressing myself physically. He seemed unable to kiss me back.
I had the impression he ran away to his office. Although anyone who walks at a reasonably fast pace looks like they are running to me since I limp and carry a cane. I can’t catch anyone. I knew there was no point in even trying to chase him. But, I knew we had to talk.
I walked around feeling a little bewildered and sad for a while.
Finally, I knocked on the office door and went in. He was focused on a flute from his collection he had been working on. Intensely focused. “What…
