my careless contagion

This article. I read this at work and wanted to bawl. Go ahead and read it. It's about an old, married couple who died 33 hours apart. When you've been married 68 years and grew up together, being without that person feels like dying anyway. So when they leave for good, you follow them too. This story really touched me, so I'm sharing it. They were one person. I think that's rare in this world, at least it is now. Everyone has their own agenda now. Theirs is the kind of relationship I wanted, and now I'm staring at a future that is very lonely. Staying with one person — that one person who makes you feel alive and complete and happy your whole life — that's what I wanted. Yes, I know there are hard times, you don't have to tell me that, but how you feel about that person doesn't change. That's special. I feel my life has been incredibly unfair and unkind. I try not to complain, but, still, it's there in front of me. And, on top of that, I...

  I can see it as clear as my reflection in the mirror. It's you and me, sweet girl, making our run for it. From the church, past the people, and into the sunshine. It's you and me, and it's the story I've been aching to write — our story.  We drive into that breezy, balmy morning, away from all of that noise. It's just you and me for a moment, dear, as I park the car and we both stop, our hearts still pounding like the rain on a tin roof. Our eyes meet, and it hits us like the first peals of thunder. This is it, honey, and for the rest of our lives. This is the moment we've been waiting for. I belong to you and you belong to me.  Your face is blushing and my hands are shaking, and I can barely see straight because it's all happening too fast. I just want to slow it down, you know, and make it last. It's slipping away, and I'm grasping at it, and it's almost gone again ... until I realize you're not going anywhere. You've just pro...