NeNe Leakes is learning about life from a new perspective and she’s reflecting on memories she’s shared during her 25-year relationship with late husband Gregg Leakes.
In this week’s issue of PEOPLE, the Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 53, opens up about the special moments she shared with her husband before he took his final breath on Sept. 1.
“The last five days before his passing was really beautiful,” she says. “All of his children were there. His best friends were there. Our closest friends were there. We all sat with him around the clock.”
“We talked a lot, and we made peace with what was happening,” she adds.
Gregg, 66, died in their Atlanta home after a four-year battle with colon cancer.
NeNe and Greg Leakes married in 1997 after dating for years. In 2011, the couple filed for divorce. However, they rekindled their love and married in an on-air ceremony in 2013.
While NeNe was hit with an overwhelming sense of loss, she found comfort in some of Gregg’s last words to her: “I’m not going to leave you. God is going to bless you.”
Adds NeNe: “He said he wanted me to move on with my life.”
And when the time came for Gregg to make his “transition,” NeNe was there, holding his hand.
“He took a deep breath, and then he stopped,” says NeNe. “I thought I would be scared, but I just held him and kissed him.”
As she continues to grieve, NeNe says she will continue to adjust to her new normal to best of her ability.
“I keep thinking to myself he’s away on a trip and he’ll be right back,” she says. “I’m still waiting for him to come home.”
Read the full story HERE.