Slipping

Slipping

October 09, 2024

Til’ death do us was always part of the agreement. I watched the monitor in her hospice room. Not today was my only thought.

Not today.

She lay peacefully on her new pillow and crisp linens. Her blood pressure was 60 over 30. Her pulse was 32. Last hour, both were higher.

Last hour, she told me she was feeling fine.

We had planned for this day, although I hoped it would never come. I was to go first. I was the oldest. I worked jobs that should have killed me. She lived the life of the Queen she was (in my mind). No harm would come to her.

No harm ever did.

But, time did instead.

Slowly, ever so slowly, time crept, in plain sight, upon her.

Today, it began its sprint.

Her BP dropped a few more points. Not enough to erase the smile on her face, but drop it did.

I smoothed her silky, gray hair for the last time. I did not need a machine to tell me her breathing was erratic. Her DNR meant we would not be disturbed.

She would pass quietly.

That is what she wanted.

When I heard the flatline of the monitor, I closed her eyes.

She died without pain.

That is what I wanted.