AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I looked at the clock on the wall - it was only eleven in the morning. My schedule was booked solid today, but right now, that didn’t matter to me. I had to see for myself that the only thing troubling her was age.
“Mom, you go lie down and I’ll see you soon,” I instructed her.
“Okay. I love you, Colton,” she said.
“I love you too, Mom.”
I ended the call and immediately updated the owner of the farm with what was going on. He’d known my parents all his life and practically ordered me to check on her immediately.
When I arrived, my father was outside working in his garden. I beeped and he looked surprised to see me. I went right over to him and asked, “Dad, is Mom feeling okay?”
“I think so. We had breakfast a couple of hours ago and she was fine. Why?” he asked.
“She called me a little bit ago and she wasn’t sounding like herself,” I said.
“Your mother was just worried about you, like always. She wanted to hear about your trip and make sure you made it back safe and sound,” Dad said.
“So she knew I traveled?” I asked.
Dad looked puzzled. “Of course she did. Your mother doesn’t forget anything.”
But she did. Twice.
“Dad, I think we should go check on her,” I said.
“Colton, you’re scaring me,” he said, grabbing hold of my forearm.
I’m scaring myself.
“Let’s go inside.”
We walked to the house together, and as soon as he opened the door, we saw her. She was on the floor, unconscious. Dad dropped to his knees. “Lilly. Wake up, Lilly.”
I dialed 911 and told the dispatcher everything I could. They asked me for vitals, and all I could tell them was that she had a pulse, but was unresponsive. The danger of living in such a rural place was that it took longer for an ambulance to arrive.
“Dad, maybe we should get her into the truck and take her to the hospital,” I said, not knowing what else to do.
He shook his head, and said, “She’s…gone.”
That couldn’t be. I wasn’t going to accept that. I felt for her pulse again, and there was none. I immediately started CPR and continued until the ambulance arrived. They took over and rushed her away. We followed the ambulance to the hospital. When we got inside, they told us we had to stay in the waiting room. It didn’t take long for the emergency room physician to come out and speak to us. I knew what that meant.She’s gone.
“I’m sorry. She suffered a massive stroke. There was nothing we could do.”
My dad just nodded as though he had already known. They’d been married for over fifty years. They were inseparable. The look in his eyes was unreadable.He’s lost the only woman he’s ever loved. His partner. His soulmate.
“I’d like to go and sit with my wife if that is okay,” he asked.
The nurse put a consoling hand on his shoulder and said, “Of course you can. Take all the time you need.” Then she turned to me and asked, “You’re welcome to sit with your mother as well.”
I couldn’t. A flood of guilt overtook me. The doctor said there was nothing that could be done, but I knew otherwise. If I hadn’t just assumed it was my error when she forgot I had traveled, then maybe we could’ve gotten her here on time. Or maybe if I had called an ambulance before leaving work, they might have been able to save her.
“No. I…I...”
“Colton, she knew how much you loved her,” Dad said. “It’s okay if you can’t go sit with her now.”
“It’s not that. It’s…I should’ve known,” I admitted. It didn’t feel any better hearing the words spoken out loud.
Dad replied, “No, son. If anyone should’ve known, it was me.”
