I saw my favorite people.

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It took a while to recover from doing chores.  The shakes, weakness, lots of things.  It was as if I became absolutely exhausted, and all at once.  Just finishing was a bit of a trick.  Even the cells in the muscles hurt, burned.  I did finish, then sat, for a while.  So hungry, yet unable to cook.  I was able to drive, so I did that instead.

To one of my regulars.  Not health food.  But hot, and enough, so that I was satisfied.  Rather than drive home to eat cold food, which is worse for being cold, and impossible to reheat rightly, I find a spot to park and eat.  Preferably a parking lot with overhead lighting, and not too much traffic.  So it went.

As I was eating, I saw the couple.  Old.  I am old.  These were probably married before I was born.  But, together, they... hold up well.  They hold each other up.

She, I saw first, coming around their minivan.  I am guessing they have that for grand, perhaps great grand, children.  As well as for groceries.  It's the new station wagon.  Dressed in a moderately pleasant, if dated, dress.  Just to below her knees.  A white sweater on over, heavier but not even really to the temps for today, for her age and sex.  Still, she seemed quite comfortable.

Comfortable enough to fuss in the back, through the midsection sliding door.  He, by this time, had round up behind her, so as to see her into the vehicle.  She, as mentioned, decided to fuss in the back.  This is not what he had in mind, and they had a quiet moment if he absolutely allowed, and helped, in spite of his notions.  It... isn't about him, or even just her, but about what needs to be done, even if that is just ensuring she feels ready and right.  Yes, I... see.  In ways others only imagine.

Finally, settled with what she had wanted checked, moved, set, placed, adjusted, or such, he helped get her into her seat and closed the door for her as she otherwise settled in and belted up.  It took him ten to fifteen seconds to shuffle to the other side of the vehicle.  Bow legged, shuffling, in a suit which was probably from when he was a younger man.  His hair so wispy thin, white, almost more smoke than hair...  Yet full.  Both of them.

He drove well.  One wouldn't have known he was in his seventies or even eighties by his driving.  I headed out just after them.  I said a little prayer.  Jealous, I was, remain.  They aren't a man and his wife, they are a people.  Just... one.  They have shared a life for longer than I have lived one.  I even saw when they were first dating, or married, through my... talents.  They are close, now, to death.  It hasn't all been easy.  It won't be easy going on.  And, yet, they are going to be rather comfortable, as they are now, in a way only some of us may understand.

There will be a little bit of discomfort, as their time ends.  Perhaps moments, when one is finished and the other awaits their turn.  But they will already still be together, here and there.  I can sense it already.  I have... been there myself.  My first real love will always be with me, and the last I loved will as well.  A few others, still here and already gone, share my life.

Reminded... of the past and the future...  Still, can't help my jealousy.  Their time more real, and together more than I have had the fortune to know.  And, yet, I would not begrudge them a second of their time.  A bit of a prayer for them, as I passed, or one more prayer, and they turned off.  Such a wonderful people.