He felt the pain intensely in his jaw.
Extreme heaviness crushing his chest.
Intense burning pain
radiating from his back and
down his lifeless left arm.
Shortness of breath
denying life giving oxygen.

Knowing instinctively his time was near
he slowly backed away
from friends and family.
Not wanting them to watch him die
he walked into the woods.
Labored breathing and pain
forcing him to his knees.

Willing himself to his feet
the pain dropped him to one knee
and he crawled like a wounded animal
moving his head from side to side
trying to lessen the unbearable
relentless pain
across his shoulders.

Lying down in a bed of multi colored leaves
he breathed in the scent of autumn
Sweat burned his eyes as he closed them
perchance to see the face of his love
and her smiling eyes
which appeared to change color
like the falling autumn leaves.

Fading in and out of awareness
he cried out to her
as she faded away.
A luminous whiteness
appeared as
he reached out

and touched

the face

of

~God~