She had been his wife for most of her adult life. Every minute of their thirty years together had been pure bliss! She had always been baffled by the fact that the universe had showered her with countless blessings.
When her husband unexpectedly passed away, she was stripped of all she had ever cared for. She was left in a shadow of grief. One day, she decided to look at his workbench, and what she found underneath it made her wonder if she was going insane. Her heart broke all over again at the sight of what she found tucked under his bench.
Her Soulmate
Amanda McIntyre met her soulmate, John, when they were very young. The couple got married when they were twenty-five years old. She had never felt the kind of love John gave her. He was not only her life partner but also her teammate and best friend.
She had made it her goal to keep John happy. John had always done the same for her, and she appreciated it immensely. She never understood why disaster chose to strike her relationship.
He Was Perfect
John was the definition of a perfect husband. He was kind, patient, and intelligent, and his laughter warmed everyone’s heart. He was Amanda’s ideal match emotionally and physically. He was determined, hard-working, and incredibly handsome.
Amanda was certain she had found the love of her life. They were a perfect match and had undeniable chemistry. They only grew stronger as the years passed until that awful day when Amanda’s world shattered.
When It All Went Wrong
The day had started out beautifully for the couple. They were both well into their fifties and had a talented son, Aaron, who was attending university.
Amanda was in the middle of giving a lecture when she got an upsetting phone call from the hospital. They told her that John had been in a horrible accident and that she needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible.
An Emergency
Amanda was a college professor, yet she didn’t hesitate to drop everything she was busy with when she got that call. Her only goal was to get to her husband. Her heart was hammered in her chest as she hoped and prayed that she was not about to lose her best friend.
Amanda jumped out of her car and made her way to the entrance when she arrived at the hospital. She was trying her best to think optimistic thoughts. But when she got to the reception, her heart broke into a million pieces.
Lost And Alone
Amanda fell to her knees as she released a gut-wrenching scream. The hospital confirmed John had passed away upon arrival. The days after that went by in a dark blur. Then, all of a sudden, a year passed.
Amanda was lost and confused and had isolated herself in her home. Her son feared for his mother’s mental state and did something unbelievable.
Coming To Terms With Everything
Aaron took a break from his studies to look after his mother. Amanda’s eyes were finally opened, and she realized how her actions had affected her son. She had been so lost in her grief that she had forgotten to care for herself and her house.
Amanda stood in front of the mirror, inspecting her appearance. She hardly recognized the weak, thin woman staring back at her. She glanced around and realized how messy her house had gotten. John would not have wanted this to happen.
Starting To Heal
It was a long and challenging journey, but Amanda began fighting her struggles. She tried her best to become part of society again and live without John.
She was still perplexed by how indifferent fate had been. It took her a long time to come to terms with the fact that everything was final and that she didn’t get to say goodbye to John. She often wondered how long she could go on without him.
Getting Use To It
The McIntyre household was slowly getting used to the new situation. Six months had passed since Amanda decided to get her life back. Her son had returned to university, and things were starting to look up.
But something was clearly still off within herself and her house. She was lost until she glanced beneath John’s construction workbench one Saturday morning.
His Workbench
Amanda had been busy cleaning the garage when she came across the bench. It was John’s favorite workstation since he started carpentry as a hobby.
She had teased him about it a few times, but now she gently rang her fingertips across the side with a sad smile. She wished with all her heart that he could still be by her side. She knelt to wipe underneath it, and that’s when she noticed it.
He Left Her Something
Amanda found a paragraph written in red marker addressed to her. She gasped with joy as she realized that it was John’s handwriting.
“I love you, Amanda,” the note began. “I hope today is a good day for you. All my prayers were answered when God put you in my life.” Amanda clutched her hands to her chest as tears welled in her eyes. It didn’t end there, though.
His Words
The message continued, “I know that every day I spend with you will be the best. I’m so happy I have you by my side.”
“I don’t know if you’ll ever see this, but if you do, just know that I love you with all my heart.” Amanda hunched down as she smiled through the tears. Did she finally get the closure she needed? She carried on reading.
Made Her Feel Special
“The only thing I want in life is to be as good to you as you are to me. If I can do that, I’ll be the happiest man on earth.” Amanda sobbed as she said, “You were always good to me. Always.”
John made her feel like the happiest woman alive when he was with her. Even after he passed away, he was still making her heart flutter. Amanda’s smile fell away as she read the last line.
She Can Finally Breathe
The last line read, “I love you, my beautiful wife.” It was the perfect finish to a lovely surprise. Amanda wiped her tears as her smile grew into a mixture of a blush and a grin.
She felt an enormous weight lift off her shoulders as she whispered, “I love you too.” She immediately went to call Aaron to tell him about what she had found. But his response made her lips part.
Thankful
Aaron said over the phone, “Mom, I hope when I meet the right person for me, our bond is just as strong as you and dad’s.” Then he suggested that they cut out the planks that had John’s message on them so they could frame them.
As Amanda listened to him speak, she thanked the world that even though she had lost her soulmate, she still had her son and the beautiful note. It was enough to keep her going every day.