It was a typical autumn evening,
he sat, with his memories, in the porch swing.
The crisp air a gentle hint
of what winter would soon bring.

She died one year ago today,
his wife of only four years.
he never knew of her pain,
she had shielded him from her tears.

Suddenly he shivered and went inside,
feeling so very cold.
But he knew it wasn't the cool evening air,
it came from within him soul.

He glanced around the room,
so many memories, so much pain,
then he saw the unfinished puzzle,
all of her that remained.

Her worldly possessions shared with others,
His memories their only tie,
except for the unfinished puzzle,
afraid to remove it, not knowing why.

She had chosen the puzzle,
a scene of mountains reaching high.
Together they had matched the pieces,
talked of climbing the mountains and touching the sky.

One piece of the puzzle was missing,
he had searched to her dismay.
She said, "Don't worry about the unfinished puzzle,
the missing piece will be found one day."

He reached for their photo album,
the first time since hers death.
he needed to see her face now,
he needed to feel her depth.

he turned the pages slowly,
so many memories, so much pain.
And within the pages of the album,
an envelope with his name.

The envelope contained a letter from her,
and the puzzle's missing piece.
he read the words with longing,
and found in them release...

"I knew you would not look at these pictures
until you understood within your soul,
that our brief time together was a gift,
and our life together was whole.

I give to you this missing piece
of the unfinished puzzle we shared.
It's the very top of the mountain,
and I know that you are there.

It's time for you to see the other side,
a new life for you will unfold.
Seek your new beginning
and the stories yet untold.