Page 64 of The Cloud Catcher

‘Always yours, sweet Zara, in every life, in every universe,’ he murmured, his voice a low thrum against the evening air.

‘And you, Jay, are the magic in mine,’ she replied with a peaceful smile, her spirit radiating through the fatigue that claimed her body.

In the quiet that followed, there was a sense of completion, like a circle closed and a promise fulfilled. As the distant lullaby of the ocean carried on the breeze, they remained locked in their silent intimacy, hearts beating in unison even as one heart prepared to still. And as the last vestiges of daylight surrendered to the encroaching night, Zara and Jay held tightly to the love that had been their greatest adventure, their most cherished gift. Theirs was a bond that would transcend time and space. The flicker of Zara’s eyelids mirrored the delicate movements of a moth in flight, seeking solace in the twilight. Her shallow breaths kept tempo with the gentle wash of the ocean waves that whispered from beyond the window, a rhythmic lullaby that had cradled her through countless nights. The room was awash with the soft glow of the evening stars, their collected light casting silver threads over the quilt that lay draped across her.

‘Look at the stars, Za,’ Jay said softly, guiding her gaze towards the heavens with his words alone. ‘They’re brighter tonight.’

With great effort, she turned her head slightly and gazed up at the celestial patterns dancing gracefully above. ‘They’re shining for us,’ she whispered, her voice no more than a sigh carried on the wind.

In those shimmering constellations, she saw the map of their journey together, each star a precious moment they’d shared. Their love was infinite, a boundless cosmos of memories that stretched into eternity. And with that knowledge, a profound peace settled in her heart as she felt the approach of a different kind of dawn. There was no fear now, only a deep knowing that the love she’d given and received was an unbreakable bond that transcended mortal life.

‘Jay,’ she began again, mustering all her energy to speak, ‘I feel it, the tides are changing. But there’s a beauty in it, isn’t there? A symmetry?’

‘Yes, my love,’ Jay replied, his voice steady though she could feel the tremor of his contained emotion. ‘You’ve always found grace in life’s design.’

Their baby daughters, now grown women, stood by the bedside, their hands clasped together, an unspoken unity in the face of their mother’s transcendence. Their eyes held stories of resilience learnt and tenderness bestowed, all a testament to their mother’s spirit.

And as the moon took its rightful place in the velvet-black sky, the room seemed to hold its breath, a sacred pause between the chapters of existence. Zara’s chest rose and fell with diminishing urgency, each breath a gentle wave receding from the shore of life.

‘Stay with me, Za, just a little longer,’ Jay pleaded softly, more to himself than to her.

‘I’ll try,’ she managed, her heart reaching out to wrap him in comfort even as her physical strength waned.

The moon climbed higher still, casting its benevolent gaze upon the people gathered around Zara’s bedside. Its silvery light felt like a serene benediction as the world continued its indifferent spin. But within the walls of their home, time slowed to honour the gradual passing of a soul whose love had rendered it malleable. And in this tender vigil, where whispers of love and echoes of shared laughter mingled with the sorrow of imminent parting, Zara Maverick took hold of her precious self and once more found her solace upon the mountaintop.

Would she make it into tomorrow?

She wasn’t sure.

Nevertheless, she’d try for one more day.

* * *

The faint tendrils of dawn crept through the curtains, casting delicate rays of light upon Jay’s tired face. The promise of a new day hung heavy in the air, a cruel reminder that Zara’s time on this earth was waning. Way too quickly. Her shallow breaths mingled with the sound of the world outside, as waves gently caressed the shoreline. She was here in body, but her spirit had shifted. He could feel it deep within his bones.

Love transcends all … she had murmured weakly just hours earlier, her voice barely audible in spite of the silence that had filled the room before the morphine had taken her above the clouds she loved to watch.

For Jay, her words were like stones dropped into still water, creating ripples that spread outwards with their undeniable truth. They both knew their bond was unbreakable, even in the face of death. It wouldn’t be long now before she took her final breath. Taking deep breaths in a bid to try and hold it together, he watched as the salty breeze brushed against the curtains, slowly nudging them aside to reveal shards of orange and pink light dancing upon Zara’s pale cheeks. It was as if nature itself conspired to paint what could become his wife’s final morning with colours beyond description.

‘Jay,’ Zara murmured, her heavy gaze drifting towards the window.

‘Hey, my love.’ In three strides he was back beside her, leaning in to gently kiss her forehead. ‘I was just thinking, Za, we’re like the tides, you and me, meant to meet, only to part and meet again in another place …’ His hand found hers beneath the patchwork quilt Lily had made for her. ‘I love you.’ Tracing his thumb over her skin, he tried to etch every detail into his memory for a future where he could no longer do so.

‘I love you.’ Her smile was faint, as was her voice.

The room fell quiet except for the gentle whisper of the sea breeze and the muted sounds of waking life around them — Amy and Lily stirring in the guest rooms, Suzanne quietly weeping in the hallway, likely wrapped in Mark’s arms. They were all moving within borrowed time. And as the sun rose higher above the horizon, its warm rays reached out, creating a halo of golden light around Zara. It was a cruel irony that as the world grew brighter, her inner light dimmed.

‘I promise to tell the girls our story, over and over, so they always remember how much we love each other, and them.’ Jay’s breath hitched as he fought to confirm her final wishes. ‘I will tell them everything, right from the beginning,’ he assured her, reading the unfinished sentences in her tired eyes. ‘And I promise to always remind them that love is what keeps their world spinning.’ Zara’s face was blurring as he fought back tears while watching her gazing out the window, taking in what might be her last view of the dawning sky. ‘Go now, my love, if you need to.’ Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to her forehead, tasting the salt of his tears mingling with remnants of her warmth. ‘Sleep, my love,’ he whispered, his words a thread weaving through the stillness. ‘I’ll be right here beside you when you wake.’

But somehow, he knew she wouldn’t.