A Moment, Please, Before I Die:

In a hospital wing for Cancer patients,down at the end of a long hall, lies an older woman, in a bed. She appears older than her seventy four years old, which she is. This last year has been hard for her. She has memories of being young and planning dinners and holiday occasions for families and friends, this is what she was so good at.

Then, a year ago, she became tired. The doctor did some blood work and told her what she expected to hear and what she feared the most. She had Leukemia. The doctor said she had a good prognosis and would still live for years to come. She believed him and the many promising years to come.

The good times of feeling better, lasted two months. Then, she continued to go down hill. The doctor said he did not understand. The chemo seemed to make everything worse. She started needed more blood units every two weeks, then every week, now she is getting her blood every other day. She stays at the hospital now, she never goes home. Her insurance is almost up on the Cancer payouts. She knows the end is near. If you look at her, you do not have to look close to see, the dark circles and the thin body reflect her failing condition. The doctor works hard to make her comfortable. But it is not easy to be comfortable when you are dying.

Today she sees a grandson, she does not see often. She sold him her car back when she gave up driving. The boy works fast food and pays his grandma payments every month at the same time each month. This time, today, she will see him and have a talk with him. She knows he lives away, so this will be her last time to talk to him.

The father, her only son and his only son, walk into the room. At first they are surprised to see the machines and wires along with IV bags surrounding her bruised body. But they restrain from the surprise and ignore it all, to give her a hug and say, "Hello" with a hug.

They sit beside her. She listens to the news around their town. Then, she looks at her son and says, "Listen. I have something to say, and do not interrupt me." The son does as she is told. She says, "I want you to know I love you and have been extremely proud of you. You have been a good son, the best. I do not want to leave this world without telling you this. You have meant so much to me and have since the day you were born." The son is overtaken by emotion, after this unusual conversation he was not expecting. He hugs her tight, but finds he has to leave the

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