In the Lines of her Face

In the lines of her face I saw every care, every laugh, every triumph and every failure.  Chances had been taken and love given.  It was easy to see this face smiling.  Enjoying a good joke, sharing an exciting time or cheering on her children.  It was easy to see a face that was quick to anger but even quicker to forgiveness.  The lines on her face were a map to adventures and stories never told.

Death had smoothed the lines but had not erased them.  Death had silenced the laughter but the memories of the laugh remained.  Death had quelled the anger but the forgiveness given was still felt.  Death was the destination but the journey showed in the map in the lines of her face.

In the lines of her face, even in death, I saw life.