She had always regarded herself as a patient and considerate person.
This view of herself was held in place with only one exception; this being other people’s lateness. As far as she could tell, this peccadillo was something that could so easily be avoided on all occasions, with a minor effort with regards to forward planning. There could never be reasonable grounds for its occurrence. It was with this thought in mind that she now stood frowning at the time. Her relatively new boyfriend had agreed whole-heartedly with her unwavering opinion on the subject of such tardiness. For this reason, he had been particularly careful to allow enough time to drive the relatively short distance across town to pick her up. This, of course, would avoid the possibility of her bus turning up late. She certainly appreciated his efforts in this regard.
Meanwhile, although leaving early, his modest little town car had been struck violently at an intersection, where he had had right of way, with such force that he’d been ejected from the vehicle and had rolled to a halt in the middle of the road, unconscious.
She was beginning to feel the cold of the late afternoon wind, as she once again saw how late he was. Despite the fact that her anger was beginning to grow and burn within, she took stock. He was nice. In the few weeks that they’d been dating he was nothing but courteous. In short, she had been convinced that he’d be what you would call a good catch!
He opened his eyes slowly as he became aware of people talking and hovering over him. He could see, just beyond his stretched out arm, his mobile phone. It had obviously tumbled loose from his pocket. If he could reach it, he could send a brief text explaining. He was attempting to do this when he was lifted onto a stretcher causing the degree of pain to escalate. He passed out again.
It was a particularly horrible sense of irony that swept over her, while standing in the cold watching her regular bus come and go. He was so terribly behind time that it was going to be very difficult, if not impossible, to keep her waiting this long. However, she decided to see the whole thing out, regardless of the consequences that the incident may bring about.
In the emergency ward at the local hospital, after several urgent tests and procedures that he was only vaguely aware of had ended, he once again caught sight of his phone. It was on the bed-side table, and looked as though it was just within reach. Despite the many attached wires and tubes, it was while extending his grasp in this direction that he fell out of the bed, causing several alarms to start up simultaneously.
Later that evening she caught a bus home.
Before dawn the doctor shook his head.
Sometime later, she stood, dressed mainly in black, at the appointed spot in the cemetery, along with others. The gathering, mostly strangers, were all watching the main gate for the hearse. She was more agitated than mournful. She checked the time again.
It goes without saying, he was late.