By z
Date: 29 December 1997

Time to Live

She tilted her head in thought as she stood in the cold, looking upon the tree.
Forlorn it seemed, without the glitter of silver light, without the shine of red
rubies or the soft glow of white ribbons.  Almost an altogether different tree.
Yet remnants of past grandeur sparkled in the green like lonely beacons 
recalling moments in time, moments full of life, love and history.

Her eyes glance to the door where her beloved stood, calling her name, waving 
her back to the warmth within.  How she loved him so.  With a clutch in her 
heart, she knew she would give anything, even life, for him.  This, her
first Christmas with her beloved, held much meaning for her. 

A soft smile spread over her lips as she looked upon her first real Christmas 
tree. Reaching to the slowly dying branches, her hand softly brushes the sharp 
needles.  In a whisper she murmurs, "Thank you."