At Last

The table was laid and the air smelt that delicious smell that only a Sunday roast could. Winnie took off her apron, smoothed down her crisp, linen dress and smiled at her husband, the man she had loved for over fifty years. How lucky she was. She could still see his boyish charm, his rugged good looks. and eyes so blue they reminded her of a summer sky. He was the one that everyone wanted to dance with at The Hammersmith Palais in London,

Winnie had stood by the dance floor watching Ted from the corner of her eye, With his slick moves and nifty feet, he could twist, jive and rock in a way that even Elvis would be proud of! She knew from the moment he had asked her to dance that he would be hers forever and how right she was. He had been hers when they had lost their first baby, hers when her parents had died, hers when she had had breast cancer and hers when the children had flown the nest. He would be hers forever more. Life was just perfect….

And then the air raid sirens shrilled.

Winnie threw herself under the table, her bony, livered hands held tight over her ears. She was calling for Ted to switch the lights out and hurry to safety. He did as he was told and sat there holding her taut and trembling body tight. He stroked her beautiful long grey hair, and spoke gently to her, reassuring her that the sirens would soon be over. She hid her face in his chest, grateful for his strong arms that surrounded her, and knew he would keep her safe. The seconds turned to minutes and the minutes seemed to go on forever.

And then….

“What are we doing? she said, in a voice of surprise and bewilderment. Ted smiled the same slow smile he always did and helped her to her feet. He kissed her tenderly on her cheek and she returned to her cooking as though nothing had happened.

Ted walked to the bathroom, gently closing the door behind him. He sank to his knees and silently sobbed.

One day Ted came downstairs to find the door open and no sign of Winnie. They searched the local area and then called the police who eventually found her on a number 9 bus in her best red dress. She was on her way to Hammersmith Palais. How she wept when they took her home. ‘I just want to dance’ she had told them.

The doctors said they had no idea how things would go and suggested a residential home might be safer for Winnie. ‘Safer?’ Ted had shouted at them. ‘Safer?’ ‘How could being surrounded by people who don’t know her and love her be safer?’

He had taken her home, stopping to buy her favourite flowers, just as he had every Friday for the last 50 years. He put on her favourite song ‘At Last’ by Ella Fitzgerald, and they danced around the room with Winnie singing as she danced.

The weeks and months ahead were filled with tears, frustration and anger but, oh so much joy. They watched old movies, reminisced over photos, talked about old friends, laughed until their cheeks hurt and danced barefoot in the garden under the moon. Sometimes Winnie knew who he was. Sometimes she didn’t. But to Ted she was the love of his life and no-one could love her and care for her the way he did.

As time went by, Winnie grew frailer and weaker. Her memory lapses lasted longer, her confusion grew stronger. But now she was not frustrated or angry, she was just Winnie. It had been several days since she had recognised Ted, though she seemed more content than she had been for a long while. Her smile, when she smiled, was as bright as ever, though her eyes were growing dim. 

As Ted had finished washing her one morning she suddenly reached out for his hand ‘Just one more’ she whispered. 

‘One more what darling?’

Her voice was so faint, he could barely hear. ”One last dance’

Ted put her favourite record on and gently picked Winnie up. She was too weak to stand so Ted held her in his arms as they danced around the room. And as they danced, the confusion, fear and pain that had been etched into her face disappeared and he could see the young, beautiful girl he had fell in love with so very long ago.

‘I’m sorry my darling, I have to say goodbye’ she whispered as gently as a breeze, and with one tiny breath she was dancing for eternity.

Ted cradled her gently and laid her on the bed. He dressed her in her beautiful red dress and lay down beside her.  

The following morning they were found lying peacefully beside each other holding hands. Together forever.

At last….