Joe sat beside the lake, it was the exact spot that he and his true love Patricia had been sitting the previous year. As Joe reflected upon his memories, tears started to roll down his face. It was Valentine's day.
Regardless, Joe booked a table for two at the 'Love seat,' Joe and Patricia's favorite restaurant. They had spent the last two Valentine's evenings there. In fact, it was where Joe had proposed to Patricia one year ago today, right after leaving the lake.
Joe mourned Patricia's loss intensely, to the point that it consumed his life. "Why did Patricia have to die?" Joe couldn't make sense of it. "Why did god punish me so?" These questions loomed in his head constantly.
Patricia suffered from depression and when Joe lost his job last spring, all hopes of marriage and starting a family had thrown a lot of challenges their way. Joe was optimistic that things would get better, but Patricia could never shake the feeling of doubt from her imbalanced mind.
They found Patricia's body floating in the lake. She had taken an overdose of varied, over the counter medications. Additionally, the authorities said that the water in Patricia's lungs had played a significant part in her death.
As Joe looked at the water rippling in the cold winter's breeze, he found himself dwelling upon the Canadian Geese swimming effortlessly in front of him. He wished that one of them would just rise up out of the water and turn into Patricia, and just for a few moments, he thought that it would really happen.
Joe knew that Patricia was gone forever and that nothing could bring her back, not even a solo Valentine's evening at the 'Love seat', but he still needed some kind of closure. It was as if Joe felt that he knew what had really happened to Patricia, but he just couldn't put his finger on it.
It was a seemingly long walk to the restaurant, the cold air made sure of that. Joe was determined to celebrate Valentine's day, although alone, he was not going to be alone in his mind.
The table was set per Joe's instruction, with one red rose in a Lead Crystal Waterford Vase in the middle of a secluded, window side table. Joe sat down and ordered a carafe of semi sweet white wine, just as they had done, one year ago.
The waiter returned with the wine and hovered apprehensively, looking toward the front door of the restaurant. Joe didn't bother looking at the menu and ordered right away. They were exactly the same choices as he and Patricia had made, and although the waiter did not quite understand, he acknowledged the order with a bow of respect and made his way to the kitchen.
Joe carefully poured two glasses of wine and set one of them down to one side of Patricia's place setting. Then, he picked up his wine and made a toast to the both of them. As Joe raised his glass, his eyes caught the reflection of himself in the window and for a moment, he thought he saw Patricia raising her glass and looking at him.
When Joe looked away from the window, an odd feeling crept over him. The hairs on the back of his neck bristled and a strange coldness blew across his face like an icy breath. Joe turned toward the door and noticed that it was closed.
As Joe turned his head once more, he suddenly became aware of a presence. The presence seemed to be accompanied by a familiar feeling that carried an impression with it. Then, Joe felt something touch his hand. "Patricia?" Joe whispered.
Although Joe did not hear a reply, he knew in his heart, and in his soul, that his true love was by his side. Joe was filled with a happiness that words could not relate. "But why?" Joe couldn't help himself, this question had been upon his lips and had been hanging heavy in his heart for almost a year. "But why did this happen?"
Joe could almost feel Patricia's long thick black hair brushing against his face. He could almost smell her perfume, but most of all, he really could feel their love stronger than ever before.
As the evening wore on, he knew that Patricia was going to be with him for ever, just as they had promised each other. He also realized that Patricia's illness was of no fault of her own and that god had forgiven her. Joe knew that they were soul mates. It was the best Valentine's ever.