She looked at the clock, knowing that hospital afternoon visits were two hours away.
A week ago she’d been told that it was only a matter of days. Considering her age and the fact that she was being made very comfortable by the nurses, she was quite content to end her days where she was. How much better than the way so many poor souls pass on, she thought. She had had a good long life, she considered, and had nothing to complain about. The only disappointment she felt was about her neighbour and very best friend that hadn’t visited during the morning, the way she normally did. They had known each other for just about the whole of their long lives and had always been very close.
She looks at the clock again. Maybe, she wasn’t able to make it and will visit this afternoon, she thought. She really hoped so, because the tiredness that had been growing over the past few days was becoming more intense. She was sure that she was coming to the end. It would have been lovely to see her just one last time. While she was thinking this, she began to slip into sleep.
The movement at the side of the bed woke her. She turned and saw her friend pulling up a chair and smiling. “Sorry I couldn’t make it earlier, dear,” she said, making herself comfortable.
“I’m so glad you could make it, because I think the time for me is close. It’s lovely to see you.” She looked at the clock and said in a weakening voice, “Ah! They let you in early I see. I’m sure that’s because they all know you here. It has been so good to see you each day. I can’t tell you how much your visits have meant to me.” Her friend took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
Minutes later, the nurse and the doctor were by her bed. The doctor was entering the time of death on her chart when he said, “I must say the timing is a relief for me.” He hung the clipboard back at the end of the bed. He let out a sigh. “I know how close she was to her friend. She was always talking about her. Once visiting hours had started I felt I should come and let her know that she won’t be visiting because she had a heart attack this morning and died before she arrived at the hospital. I wasn’t looking forward to telling her that.”