The door to the room was ajar.
“Is she asleep?” I asked. “Don’t wake her up.”
But the woman gently shook her mother, who blinked, then held her arms out. My daughter went first, hugging her gently, then me, feeling how fragile she was.
She was wearing pretty pajamas instead of a hospital gown. No poking or prodding necessary; just pain medications to keep her comfortable.
“Sit down,” she instructed, and we did. We each held one of her hands, talking, smiling.
We hugged her again, told her we loved her.
And we left, not able to say the words “goodbye.”
Write a story in exactly 101 words.
Oh, I felt I've been in that story before ... the last time I saw my grandmother. I wish now I had to courage to ask the things I wanted to know, before it was too late.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we were able to visit her this week. She's a wonderful lady, and the prompt didn't allow for enough words to adequately express that.
Delete;( oh! this one got to me.
ReplyDeleteIt was difficult to write. She's such a lovely lady, always serving others.
DeleteOh, I'm sorry! It's a gutpunch for us, too.
ReplyDeleteSad. It leaves a lasting memory. It's better to say I love you than goodbye.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteOh, that was a sad one. My aunt had a thing where she hated goodbyes - would actually cry when she had to say it. So she said "hello" instead. When she died a few years ago, we said Hello. Anyway...thanks for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteThat's a sweet story, Lori!
DeleteApparently, too much for me...this is all your story, of course, but somehow you sent me to the hospital room the night my beautiful Grandmother died. Holy hell I miss her so much...even five years later. Maybe it's the holiday and how they weren't there. Not sure why that hit me so full in the face - perhaps that's why I've been sad today.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your sadness...love you big!
I'm sorry, Lisa! I didn't mean to stir up anything so sad for you! This sweet lady is such an inspiration of doing good works! There will be a big hole when she's gone, but that will mean some others will have to stretch themselves and try to fill in all the things she did at church.
DeleteLove you big right back!
Oh, I recognize this. I have been to this place. Horrible and yet peacefully wonderful in its own way when the life was long and lived well. Peace to you.
ReplyDelete~May
Thanks, May. You're right: horrible yet peacefully wonderful!
DeleteThere is something so miraculous in such a moment, even when you're bawling your head off with sadness. This was so beautifully done!
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I never commented on this one because I do remember reading it and I thought I featured it as well. It definitely hit home for me. I've been at that bedside before and I couldn't bring myself to utter the words goodbye either. So hard to accept it.
ReplyDeleteYou did feature it, and I forgot to thank you for that! I never like goodbyes. This kind is the worst, so I refused to say it.
Delete