Swan Song [Partial Feedback]

**SWAN SONG** (n.): Any person's final act, gesture, appearance, effort, project, etc., before dying or retiring; most commonly used to describe the final performance or work of an artist.<br>***<br><br>In sickness and in health, for better or for worse, until death do them part.<br><br>Eden didn’t know how much longer there was left.<br><br>She sat at the edge her bed, dreading the day ahead of her. A sunny day in September, the most beautiful weather of the year in the city. This morning marked the first day that she was alone in her apartment since Claire had left. This morning marked the first day that she ever felt like she was alone.<br><br><br><br>Eden took a heavy breath. She couldn’t stop herself from crying. She couldn’t stop herself from screaming. She knew that she would never see her partner again, and that she would never get to see her grandson grow up. Everything that she had ever lived for was now gone. She would soon follow, succumbing to the disease that had plagued this earth for centuries.<br><br>She sat at the edge of her bed for hours. She thought about all the times that she and her partner had shared. She thought about her son, and his encroaching silence. She thought about her grandson, still a child.<br><br>She stood up and left the bedroom. Today was the day that she had chosen for herself. Today.<br><br>She crossed the floor and opened the door that led to the balcony. She prepared the canvas and the paint in front of her. A single sheet of paper, nothing more.<br><br>Eden placed her hand on the canvas. She closed her eyes, and painted. She painted for hours, using every colour that she could imagine. Every puzzle piece of her life, every patchwork of memories. Her painting was a maelstrom of colour and emotion. The words were blurring together, the feeling was overwhelming her. Every colour, every emotion, every memory.<br><br>The sun was setting when she was finished. The canvas was a beacon of hope, of love. This was her swan song. This was the final piece of her. Claire and she had lived their life well, but it was their time to go. The time had come for her to take her final bow. This was the end, the last note of the song. Her swan song.<br><br>Eden placed her hand on the canvas. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She thought of Claire. She thought of her grandson. And she smiled.<br><br>She stepped back from the canvas, and let her gaze drift to the city. The sun was setting in the distance. The sky was on fire, a flame that burned brighter than the dying embers of her own flame. She didn't have to be afraid of burning out. She had lived her life well.<br><br>And as the sun dipped below the horizon, Eden felt her own flame fading away. She felt the end drawing near now, and she knew that it was time. There was nothing left for her now. She had painted her final piece.<br><br>Eden folded her arms, and smiled. She closed her eyes and listened as the flame within her died. This was her swan song.<br><br>And it was beautiful.<br><br>• • •<br><br>SWAN SONG (n.): Any person's final act, gesture, appearance, effort, project, etc., before dying or retiring; most commonly used to describe the final performance or work of an artist.