walkingstranger
2943
35
6
I sat with a dying friend of over twenty years, who only wished her husband was there with her.
While I knew that she wouldn't be fully lucid and was in a great deal of pain, I wanted to spend a little time with her before the end and say our goodbyes.
Barely able to speak and unable to move, she lay there, whimpering as silently as she could and only speaking up to ask when her husband would be there or if he had arrived.
Giving what little comfort I could, I would tell her that I'm sure that he would come soon. Hoping that I wasn't lying to my dying friend after I was informed that when/if he does come, its to spend the 5-15 minutes before leaving. His last visit being two days ago.
I know her time on this earth is extremely limited and I know that not everyone can handle the harness of life, but I just don't understand why someone wouldn't sit with the woman they married in this darkest of times.
While cutting to the very core, these are moments with her that you will never be able to have again.
I'm not going to judge their marriage, or even his actions, for right or wrong, they are his own and he will have to live with them. It's not place my place, or anyone else's, to cast that judgment.
I just couldn't do the same.
I'm not seeking any comments or made-up points. I just wanted to rant into the void for a moment and observe that in life, the most we can truly give someone is to acknowledge that they exist and tell them that they will be remembered when they are gone.
GuestChrist
I'll judge. He's a pig. There, now.
picklesandmayonnaisesandwich
We have such a fear of death and dying don't we? I bet everyone who has judged this husband has no plans in place for their final hours.
octamajavale
The world only stops for the dying. The living must go on. He'll grieve in his own way.
cajun7
You were there, that’s the important thing. You will never regret being there for your friend. Compassion shown is not always easy.
Manatapit
If my wife was on her death bed, I’d move the heavens to get to see her one last time.
DrippingWithSarcasm
I wouldn't even be able to do something like that to my cat, much less a person I married, Jesus.
SanguineMyBrother
I dunno. I'm torn. On one hand we spend our entire lives trying to emulate animals unconditional love. On the other, you can get a new
SanguineMyBrother
Animal, and people are much harder to pick out than getting a new pet. Its hard to say what can be worse, animals never really stop loving.
RavioliSpaghettiPasta
RavioliSpaghettiPasta
...is a bad thing, but don't let it bring you down in life years later. Also, why would he abandon his wife on her death bed?
walkingstranger
She has been in the nursing home for about a year now and this is how it's been the whole time. It's possible he just can't handle... 1/2
walkingstranger
2/2 seeing her in that place and now in that condition. Until a few days ago, she was fully lucid, but just couldn't get out of bed.