Death is a part of life as much as life is a part of death. She lied on her death bed, worn and wrinkly. A sign that time had beat her up yet she got back up no matter what. Claudia was surrounded by a few people. None of them were her children or husband, but she didn't care. She was grateful enough that she was going to greet death accompanied.
Tears streamed down their faces. A sign of heartache for a soon coming loss of a great teacher. Claudia had done her part. She had taught these people, these children, as best as she could. These children who had grown into educated men and women stood by her death bed making her feel warm even when she was supposed to be cold. Oh, how I wish he could see how far I've gone, she thought to herself.
One of her best students, a flourishing young woman, took her hand. She was the strongest of them all. Where others were openly crying over her condition, she put on a strong façade. Unwilling to shed her own tears and keep it all inside. Claudia knew what it meant. Her student must be strong when the others were falling down to the ground praying to God to give her one more day to stay. She smiled at her and put a hand over their conjoined ones. "It's okay, you're all going to be all right. Remember what I taught you?" Claudia said over a raspy breath.
The others nodded but her best student was the only one who had the courage to answer her. "To do something takes courage. One must be strong be it in the heart, the mind, or the body," she answered shakily. Claudia smiled weakly at her as she could feel herself begin to fade from this life.
"That's my good girl."
Finally, Claudia closed her eyes with that same smile she put on for the children and the women that she had taught in the village. She may not be remembered in the history books as a great figure. She may fade away with time and will soon be forgotten. But, she knew one thing for certain. She had made her own village flourish. With many obstacles that came to her, she had done it.
She had done one thing that not many people in her village had the courage to do it. It was how to stand up for herself in her own way. To teach herself, to teach others, to take a stand for her and for others who cannot take a stand.
One day, I hope I can—
She couldn't finish her thought when a bright light greeted her. All she remembered was the sun shining on her face and the familiar warm and gentle hand that she had missed holding on to.