067/2012 The Pact

Word Count:  481

The pact had been Mona’s idea. Said she didn’t want to go on living without him and Ralph thought that was sweet. He resisted but she persisted and he finally agreed.

The actual execution of the act she was leaving to him. Since he was the one who was dying they’d have to decide pretty quick while he was still physically and mentally able. Once the topic was open, she freely discussed the means.

“Poison,” she said. “Maybe slipped into a last glass of Burgundy wine.”

“How about a beer?” he laughed. There was a touch of sadness in it. “I’d really love a final beer.”

Mona slyly asked Ralph’s doctor for sleeping pills. She refilled it twice and hid the bottles in the kitchen spice carousel inside the cabinet. Right behind the cinnamon and cloves.

“What about a gun?” she asked one day.

“I can’t shoot you!” He started shaking. She didn’t bring it up again.

“Carbon monoxide,” she said. “I think that might be the best way. We’ll just both go sit in the garage in the car. It’ll be like when we were dating. Falling asleep at the drive-in.”

“Who fell asleep?” he grinned.

Ralph was beginning to have second thoughts. He was still feeling all right though weak. It was harder for him to get around. “I don’t know, Mona. I think I’d rather I just die in bed.”

Truth was that as time dwindled down, he grew hungry for each extra day. He also was more aware of a belief in something beyond, maybe even a God. Maybe even a hell where he’d surely go if he killed her and himself. Mona would go straight to heaven.

They were on their way back from his doctor’s. Mona drove for a while in silence. The doctor’s news had been bad.

“Well then, the wine,” she said. She reached out, gently laid her hand on his knee. “Tonight,” she said. “I’ll make something special for dinner. The quiche you said you like and can still eat.”

He put his quivering hand over hers though it took him some time to find it. “Mona, I don’t want to do this,” he said.

“I’ll do it,” she said. “Don’t worry, I can.”

“No, Mona. Thing is, I don’t want to die.”

She turned to him sharply, her eyes open wide. Horrible thoughts raced through her head. “We have to!” she shrieked. Really, there was only so much she could take.

“Mona…” he said.

“No! Ralph, we’ve decided.” She rounded a corner, tires squealing. She was upset and a little bit angry. “Ralph, we agreed!”

“Mona, please…”

“Ralph, I’m not going through a long drawn-out dying and then being left alone.”

“Mona! Watch where you’re going!”

They could not have planned it better. She was killed instantly as the car hit the oak. He lived a full week longer.