Last Wish
I only want to feel the sun on my face one more time. I realize it’s not much of a wish list, but when you reach 95 things tend to simplify—a lot. I’ve had a rough couple of days. It started when I tripped on that stupid carpet beside the bed, hit my head on the post and passed out. At least that’s what the nurse said when I woke up. Here she is again.
“Hi Laura. The surgery on your hip went pretty well, but the doctor will tell you more when she does her rounds. Don’t worry, we’re hoping to get you completely fixed up soon. I’ll check back a bit later. Okay?”
“Sure thing.” Ha. Nice enough gal, but I’m not an idiot. I could hardly make it out of bed even before this mess, so I’m pretty sure I’m not getting out of here. If I’m honest, I really don’t even want to go back. But nobody wants to hear the truth, do they? Just close my eyes for a sec…
Huh. Now what?
“Hi Laura. I’m Dr. Lang. How’re you feeling?”
Is she kidding? Feels like someone took a baseball bat to my hip, then kicked me in the head.
“Not too bad, I guess.”
“We found some irregularities with your heart that are a bit concerning, so we’d like to run a few more tests to see what’s going on. Would that be okay?”
“Do I have to?”
“Well, we’d hate to have you go home and something happen to bring you back. If there’s anything we can do that’s preventative, it would be much safer.”
Trouble is, nobody wants to hear the truth anymore. I’m old, I’m sick, I’m tired. I’ve had a great life. Now I’m ready to go, or soon anyway, so if it happens it happens.
“Listen Doc. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll pass.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yep. But would you mind helping me over to the window for a minute? Looks like the sun’s finally coming out.”
“Of course.”
“Thanks, Dr. Lang. I’ll be fine now.”
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleWell written! Why are people so afraid to die? I loved the way the main character faced life. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Henry. I think our culture has much to learn about how we treat the elderly and how we deal with death in general.
Hi Preston. Your story took me back to the times I sat with my mum by the river, her face raised to the sun. I loved how you took us inside the mind of Laura, allowing us to share her thoughts and feelings, and what a talent you have for natural, flowing dialogue. Laura’s ‘not too bad’ response to the doctor when she clearly was suffering… so typical of that generation… went… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThanks so much Linda!
Your phrase, “nobody wants to hear the truth” rings so true concerning the elderly and bad times. Thank you, Preston for presenting old age in a realistic down-to-earth way.
Thanks Margarida! A few years ago I spent a fair amount of time with a loved one at a care centre and it left a deep and lasting impression. Unfortunately, a great deal of our experience there was negative and I think we could learn a great deal from other cultures and communities regarding elder care. Wherever possible, I try to inject some truth, however painful, into my narrative about experiences like… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHi Preston – Welcome to the Voice Club! Great writing on your first story ? I especially liked your opening line: “I only want to feel the sun on my face one more time. I realize it’s not much of a wish list, but when you reach 95 things tend to simplify—a lot.” – I also like how the last lines of the ending connected everything back to her last wish… Read more »
Thanks so much Chris for the positive feedback! Having positive comments to look forward to is a wonderful motivator for us all.
I am happy that you found voice club Pres! This place is amazing. And although I know this is NOT your first story, I am fairly sure Chris means your first story HERE. Cool club!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleWelcome to Voice.club, Preston! I love your story. Laura’s inner monologue, in combination with her exterior dialogues, is hilarious. The combination between the humorous touch and the down to earth reality of the subject of death is very well balanced. I checked into your Star Page, and went from there to Amazon. I was impressed to see how creative you are and got curious to read something from your list of books.… Read more »
Thanks so much Christer! I’m sensing we share a similar sense of humour, and greatly look forward to reading more of your stories as well. I truly hope you enjoy The Unbelievable Story… I really had fun writing it and though now I wish I could make dozens of changes I guess that’s just part of the growth process. All the best, Preston
Welcome Preston! You are right (in your comments to Chris) that feedback is a great motivator, as is reading the incredible variety of responses to a theme. My Dad moved into care last year and my Mum several years ago (both with dementia) so your story resonated with me. Fortunately, my parents are in a very good facility. Your story is very well written and reminds us that older people have feelings… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThanks Sandra! I’m so glad your experiences with care for your parents have been positive, especially considering the additional challenges of dementia. I’m hopeful our society will find a way to shed the “invisibility” you so rightly have identified so that future generations find a bit more peace and comfort during their final years.
Preston, wonderful dialogue between the characters! I liked hearing Laura’s thoughts and how what she is thinking is not necessarily what she tells people. I think it is quite similar when people ask “how are you” and out of habit people just respond with “good” or “fine” without really voicing their feelings.
Thanks Bella! The old saying “actions speak louder than words” is very often true, as well as “reading between the lines”… looking at body language and other clues to see what people truly believe.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI agree, words can only convey so much.
Hello, Preston. A warm welcome to voice club. I actually enjoyed and loved your story from the beginning until the end. You vividly portrayed facing life and death. Very well done, Preston. Hope to read more stories from you soon.
Thanks very much, Lotchie. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYou are most welcome, Preston, Keep on writing.
Welcome to Voice.club, Preston. Your story really resonated with me. I worked as an elderly care nurse for about thirteen years, and the times I heard ‘why bother’, or words to that effect from my older patients! At that age they didn’t want to be poked with needles or asked to put themselves in impossible positions and stay completely still (not easy for patients with Parkinson’s disease) or have personal examinations carried… Read more »
Thanks Carrie. I hold the nursing profession in the highest regard, and I think care for the elderly can be especially difficult. So thanks also for performing that support role for some of our most vulnerable.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI think when it is time to go, all one needs is the sun to shine on you, that consuming sunrises and sunsets that never let you down. Great post.
Thanks Shobana!
You are welcome.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleMy brother Preston wrote this about our mother and I just read it for the first time. Wow. Powerfully captured a slice of our amazing mom in a way that I know would please her no end.
Thanks Jan! As we said, an endless mine of material for both of us. Hopefully, some healing along the way too.
Preston, this story is so relatable. So many elderly people feel like they are ready to go, but those of us staying behind don’t like to hear this. I loved how you allowed us to know Laura’s thoughts and how the Dr didn’t argue with her about not doing further tests. The ending was very satisfying, where her wish of feeling the sun on her face one more time was fulfilled. This… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI’m so glad this story resonated with you, Marianna. Thanks!