“Okay.” She pulled her blanket up farther on her chest like a child does when they are trying to comfort themselves.
“Do you want a sip of your water?” I asked.
She nodded her head in refusal.
I walked into the hallway and called Breigh. “I’m sorry to wake you up.”
“What time is it? Is everything okay?”
“Midnight. I need you to come over to Rhonda’s.”
“Is she okay?”
“She needs medicine in her pain pump, and I know I should remember how to do it, but I don’t.” I could hear the rattle in my voice so I knew she could too.
“Wyatt, take a deep breath. I can do it. I have been over there many times with the nurses and they have shown me, just in case I needed to do it. It will all be okay. I’m on my way.”
I could hear Rhonda snoring from the other room, just a slight hum, and I walked out to the porch that spanned the entire back of her house.
I stood looking at the stars, begging God to not let her be in pain, not to take her from me.
It wasn't time.
Tears dropped and I let them, with only the black sky to see.
BREIGH
My hands were shaking the entire time over to Rhonda’s house, scared what condition she was going to be in. I knew she had been suffering but even more seeing Wyatt upset. I knew this loss would be just like losing Grammy, since they were the most important people in our lives. I couldn't fathom the world without her, and I was sure Wyatt felt the same way.
The last couple weeks I had been coming over to see Rhonda. We had talked and she told me all kinds of stories that made me smile from ear to ear. She had so much love still for her husband and Wyatt. I loved telling her how the trip had gone when I met her sister, and saw the mansion for the first time. She mumbled on and on about what a waste it was to have a home so big that never was used. She said they had grown up with money, her sister and her, but were never spoiled or treated as if they were well off. Her parents had done it right, unlike how her sister had done.
She also told me how special I was to her, and I told her how she was to me. She had started to talk like she knew her time was shortening, but I never questioned her if and how she knew.
Wyatt was sitting on the porch when I arrived. I wasn't sure what to say in a situation like this, knowing he was calling me for help that he wasn't able to provide. I knew Wyatt, and I knew it bothered him. “Is she sleeping finally?” I asked.
“Yes, she was. I have checked on her a few times, and she is snoring a little bit but she seemed like she wasn't in pain.”
“That’s good. Let me go see what she needs. The nurse logs everything on a tablet in the kitchen.”
Before walking into the door, Wyatt touched my shoulder. “Thank you for coming. I hated to call and ask, but I felt so helpless.”
“I love you and I love Rhonda. I am happy to help her.”
I walked in first and saw her sleeping in her recliner, like she had so many times when I had arrived, or before I was leaving.
I couldn’t find the log in the spot it was normally placed. Wyatt followed me, waiting for instruction.
I walked to Rhonda and leaned over her. “Sweetie, where is the log so I can check and see what medicines you need?” I whispered, hoping to not scare her. I had been told previously that letting all the medicine out of her system would hurt her more than help her, and I hoped that wasn’t the case right now.
I lightly tapped her shoulder, as I had previously in days past and she would wake up.
But not right now.
No response.
I lightly touched her hand that still bore her wedding ring, although her husband had been gone over a decade.
She still didn't budge.
I was getting scared. I looked over my shoulder at Wyatt, who was as white as a ghost. I moved closer to see if I could hear her breathing…and she wasn’t.
I felt for a pulse and there was nothing.
I tried to form the words to speak to Wyatt, but I couldn’t.
I moved back and motioned for Wyatt to come up to her chair. He hesitated, just as I would have, knowing what was going to happen next and not wanting to admit it, to delay it if possible for some time longer.
He leaned down and reached for her hand, taking it in his. Her head had started to lean then, and he lightly leaned it back in its place after letting her hand go.
Tears filled my eyes, and I knew there were no words that could be spoken. What could you say when you lost one of the loves of your life? There weren't any words to dull the pain. No words could help the pain.
Her color was leaving her skin now, and her warmth was no more.
I leaned over, kissed her hand, stood up, and kissed her cheek, wanting to hug her like she had done when I had visited so many times. I wasn't ready to let her go and I had only known her for a short time compared to Wyatt.
I moved back and walked out of the room, trying to give Wyatt some time with her. There was no rush, and I wanted him to be with her as long as he needed.
Twenty minutes later, Wyatt met me in the kitchen. I was sitting at the table processing what had just happened.
“I know I need to make some calls, but I’m just not ready yet. Is that wrong?”
“Only call we need to make fairly soon is the
