Monster

by Yolanda Olson

  When they told me that they were finally finished, I lowered her gently into the cold hard stone.

  “Love you, Dolly,” I said.

  Then I replaced the granite cover.

  I didn’t want to stay there and listen to everyone’s feelings about her because I knew I would lose it.

  I looked up into the sky while they all eulogized her.

  I felt something sharp being shoved into my hand.

  I looked down and saw it as the rock they had each used to carve a piece of her into the stone. Charlie nodded at me.

  I walked toward her above ground casket with it in my hand and proceeded to start carving her roses into the hard stone.

  I made a pretty design for her; leaves, stems, everything.

  As I etched the last rose in, I stopped.

  From inside the small stone tomb I could almost swear I heard her sigh.