There was a woman staring at herself in the mirror. Her age had reached 73 this year. How could that be she thought to herself. She stared at her bright blue eyes, he always said they reminded him of a clear sky in the afternoon. She touched her hand at the thought of him. Her few rings contrasted with the color of her tan skin that had withered after all these years. IF anything she thought, I’ll know how old I am by the looks of these. Every age spot and dark spot speckling her wrinkled, but earned, dainty fingers. Following her small wrists she always hated, never could wear the bracelets bought for her, except her mother’s watch. Her gut twisted at the thought of his hand tracing hers leading up her arm as he’d kiss the inside of her elbow. She closed her eyes. Where did the time go in those cream sheets and the old yellow house? Stopping her own hand at the mid forearm where her white button up blouse had been rolled up. She looked in the mirror again. Hair was white and still long. Those women would always say behind her back it isn’t right, when you get older you should cut it. Her frizzy length she was proud of and always felt herself when it could fall in its own way. Lipstick, she needed lipstick for the day. Pulling the mirror open, to the shelves. It wasn’t behind the toothpaste, or the meds, next to the hairbrush? She closed it and her nose pinched in the way it always did when she’d forget something, lose something, or couldn’t find something. It’d help her somehow to remember where she had pu- The jeans! The jeans from yesterday at the museum. Walking her way to the laundry room and the familiar tune of Dixie Chicks played in the house so lightly. In the wicker basket in the room on top, right in the front left pocket her favorite “pristine pink” Opening the closest door she pulled out her sneakers and put them on one by one on the bench by the door. It was bright out this morning as the sun shone in, but the cactus Piper in the front stood tall and lovely as always. The purse on the hook next to her, the simple old brown leather and her jean shorts were probably a little too loose at the bottom these days but her thin frame had always been this way since her younger days. Locking the door, she wasn’t on the hunt for anything today. Usually it would speak to her. There was a new antique shop an hour away she’d been thinking of trying, but an estate sale on the way she’d probably stop and linger. Sometimes she’d find moments or memories of him in those places. The kids, the trips, the sunny evenings on the back porch while she read and he created something to fit whatever mood had struck him that day. Filling up her tank she’d go inside and grab a coke that she wouldn’t finish and a little treat for her adventure. Her daughter would call her and she’d let it ring, she knew she was busy with her newborn and the other two rascals. She would listen to her apology on the voicemail later, smiling at the fact she was telling Xavier to not put that in his mouth and calling for backup by yelling at Kyle as she hung up. Texting her, “Try to find a moment alone for yourself today and remember your blessings” She had thought to call her son but he was traveling for the 3rd time this month and Rachel and their kids were over for dinner last night. She’d just keep going down the road taking in the palm trees and the heat wasn’t too bad today. Turning up her music the familiar tunes of Holly Humberstone took her into the wind with her sunglasses just a little too far down her button nose. Thinking of him in the passenger seat doing his thing, her favorite navigator. Always finding the best places on the way, and the hidden stops. He loved discovery and the few days they’d venture together. Whims, he always let her have her whims. She’d look at the passenger side, imagine his hair in the air blowing just enough. His classic sunglasses and effortless self smiling. We were something. Something real, something beautiful. No one ever made her feel as beautiful as he did. No one ever would.