Chapter 7—The Epilogue

There are times in a man's life when he realizes he's been blessed. Those times for me have been every day of my life.

My family has been fussing about me, trying to get Great-Grandpa Spencer to eat more and drink more, but I just don't want to. I'm happy being me, doing what I need to do, when I need to do it. I know they think it's for my own good, but it's not. They don't seem to understand that no one tells a ninety-five-year-old what to do.

I'm ninety-five now, and I am certain, beyond a doubt, that I am ready to go.

I've lived a very good life. I married my Emily. After I rescued her from the UN, I brought her home to Quantico. She got her job back and we celebrated. I married her a year later on the best day of my life—October ninth.

I could relive that wedding day every day.

We had two kids, and they had a combined total of seven kids. Those kids went on to multiply, putting forty-three Reids on the planet. Smart little cookies, all of them...with an affinity for languages, too, like their great-grandma.

Emily passed four years ago, and I still miss her every day. I'm living my life—Em would've been very mad if I'd moped after her death, but I miss her. Strange to think I'd had fifty-nine years with her, yet it still was not enough.

Tomorrow would've been our anniversary.

She's still with me...in my heart and in the faces of my children, my children's children, and my children's children's children.

Blessed. I'm truly blessed.

It's after eight, and I'm tired. I'm not as young as I used to be. I think I'm going to bed a little early today...

A few days later, the newspaper read:

Dr. Spencer William Reid, also known by his surname, 95, died peacefully in his sleep in his home in Quantico, Virginia, October 9, 2075. Proceeded in death by his wife, Emily Reid (Prentiss), mother, Diana Reid (Palmer), and his father, William Reid. Survived by son, Augustus Reid and his wife, Brittany Reid (Johnson), daughter Rose Winthrop (Reid) and her husband Mike Winthrop, seven grandchildren, and forty-three great-grandchildren, all who love and miss their Grandpa Spencer very much.

Spencer was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1981, graduated at the age of 12 from high school, and held doctorates in mathematics, chemistry, and engineering.

Spencer worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Behavioral Analysis Unit for over fifty years, continuing to consult for them even in the last year of his life. He created many training and visualization programs for the FBI and received the J. Edgar Hoover Award for service above and beyond the call of duty.

"He was an invaluable force, and we are deeply saddened by his passing. The world is a far safer place because of Dr. Reid."—E. Robin Hoarsley, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A visitation will be held at Dennis Family Funeral Homes on Friday, October 13, from three to seven p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 14, at noon at Good Shepherd Church, with interment at Arlington National Cemetery immediately following.

AN: And that is how I do a death fic! Thank you for reading and responding. Next story is coming up soon. Peace and love, Kricket