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The Grey Widow

The air was crisp and chilly. Fall was definitely here.
However, this was not Father Tom Romans' favorite time of
year, he preferred the warm days of summer, but a least it
was not raining. Thick cotton like clouds hung in a bright
blue sky. A faint smell of dried leaves mingled with
antiseptic hung in the air around the hospital parking
lot. Father Tom shivered a little with the chill, and a

little of something else. Father Tom felt a touch of dread
lingering in his spirit, but he tried to shrug it off as he
pulled his heavy black overcoat tighter around his thin body.
Since he became a priest two years ago, he'd been here
many times, on the floors, visiting patients, comforting the
dying, occasionally baptizing someone, or saving a soul. So,
you'd think he would be used to the whole hospital scene by
now. Yet today was different, and he could not shake the
feeling off as he left his old 72 black VW beetle parked
in the hospital lot. He stepped briskly as he crossed the
parking lot to the front entrance, and in just a few quick
no nonsense steps he was there. He walked quickly through the
sliding glass entry-way doors and crossed the empty lobby to
the elevator doors.
He had hoped it would be warmer inside but no such luck!
As he stood waiting impatiently for the elevator doors to
open, he tried to regroup his scattered thoughts. He almost
turned and went back home! Just then the elevator bell
dinged and the doors sprung open as if to saying "too late!
With a deep sigh he steeled himself, admonishing himself
for being so silly! Gingerly he stepped into the elevator
and pushed the button for ICU/PCU floor. The doors slammed
with a loud crash making Father Tom jump, then he scolded
himself.
He looked into the mirrored panels of the elevator
to check his appearance before seeing the patients. His black
priest clothes were clean and neatly pressed and his dress
shoes were spit polished. His short dark brown hair was a
little ruffled but still looked good, his long angular face
was clean shaven but gaunt looking, he looked far older than
his twenty-six years. His Italian mom would be telling him to
eat more, but he always had had a fast metabolism. Some would
consider him attractive him, his warm dark brown eyes looked
back at him with a hint of doubt, as the elevator shuddered
it's way up to the second floor. What was it? He thought.
He hadn't felt this way since he was a child, scared to
leave his mom for the first

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