She kissed him goodbye, knowing he wouldn’t remember her tomorrow; because the soul that possesses the man she kisses, is not the rightful owner of the body she embraces. As she stops herself from falling deeper into the feeling of wanting to continue their night into the sweet passion of love making; she has to remind herself that she is on borrowed time. Her memory takes her back to a week ago, when she was given the offer to spend time with her husband who had passed in a tragic car accident a year prior. At that time, grief had caused her to spiral into depression and her only solace was sleeping next to his clothes while whispering into the atmosphere about how she misses his presence.

While visiting her husband’s grave, a Groundskeeper appeared before her eyes. “Would you like to spend time with your husband?” Looking at the man, she smiles and says, “I am spending time with my husband.” The Groundskeeper smile at her and replies, “No, what I am offering you is a chance to talk to your husband. I can make that happen; I just need you to say yes and your heart’s desire will be granted.” Thinking that the man is a lunatic, she runs away from the cemetery.

That night, she tossed and turned thinking of the possibility of having her husband back. Falling into a deep sleep, she dreams about her husband and son playing in the living room while she brings them lunch. Getting up early in the morning, she goes back to the cemetery and looks for the Groundskeeper. Walking up to him, she says out loud, “I want to see my husband again. I want to talk and spend time with him.” The Groundskeeper stops what he was doing and nods at her.

Later that day, they sat at a café to talk. “We need to find a man so that your husband soul can enter his body. The man has to look similar to your husband and he must have similar traits that your husband had.” Nodding her head, she looks at the man who greets her when she comes in for coffee. “I have a man in mind; he is the reason why I still can enter this café without breaking down from the thought of not having my husband around to enjoy a cup of coffee at this place.”

Coming out of her thoughts, she looks at the man in front of her and smiles. As she watches him clean up the dinnerware they have used; she goes to grab his favorite dessert that she spent time baking this morning. Hands wrapped around her waist and a deep, soft voice whispers, “Is that my favorite cherry cheesecake?” Turning around, she wraps her hands around his neck and kisses his lips. “I thought that I can make something special for our time together tonight.” Her husband smiles at her and his eyes shine with love and happiness.

The ring of the house phone interrupts their moment together and she leaves to answer it. Picking it up, she hears her mother’s voice on the other side, “Darling, are you feeling okay today. Do you want me to come over, I know you want to push me and everyone away, but, you have to heal. You created something special and although your husband is not here to experience this blessing in person, he lives in him.” Tears flow down her face as she speaks to her mother, then she hangs up. Hearing her husband’s feet tap across the floor behind her, she quickly wipes the tears away and turns to him.

Looking at him again, her mind continues to think back to when she and the Groundskeeper brought her husband back. She had offer the man a latte with her husband’s hair in it, and within that night, the man had shown up at the door with her favorite flowers. Meeting up with the Groundskeeper to let him know it worked, he left her with a warning, “Remember, you have ten days to spend with him before his soul leaves the body. After ten days the owner of the body soul will awaken with no previous memory of what happen.”

The pass nine days was a wonderful experience because she and her husband did almost everything that they wanted to do. She felt like he had never left and wants to continue their time together, but, she know the unfairness that would be to the owner of the body. Snapping back to the present, she tone into what her husband is saying.

“I think it’s almost time for me to leave. My time is almost up, is that right my love?” Her eyes held confusion then shock before she asks, “You know?” Smiling with sadness in his eyes, he replies, “Yes!” Then he continues, “I saw my obituary!”

“I am so sorry, I wanted you back so badly, so I had your soul come back into someone else body. I just can’t seem to let you go,” she says tearfully before breaking down.  He walks up to her and holds her close. “Yes, you can my love. You are a strong woman with an amazing heart. One of the reasons that I fall in love with you is, because you offered me the last chocolate muffin then smile before you left. The next day, I waited at that café until you appeared again. You have to be strong, because our son needs to see the love and strength that is in you.”

Lifting her head to look at him, she asks, “You saw him?” The man wipes her tears away and replies, “Yes, and he is perfect; but he needs his mother to get well. Although this body would not remember the past nine days, my soul will hold onto this memory.” Leaning closer, she kissed him goodbye, knowing this body wouldn’t remember her tomorrow.