By now, death is certainly something I should get accustomed to. After all, everyone ends on the same note. How everyone ends though, is quite something else altogether. It still makes me sad, makes me worried or makes me wish for something else entirely different on that spectrum.

When people come into homes, and they still have their partners, they sometimes move in together with their partners. This depend on how well they can look after themselves, for the most part. Most that do move in together have some sort of dependency on having others around them.

In room 27, there was this very beautiful couple. Whenever the wife needed something, the husband had get up and totter over to the nursing station to ask us for that favour. Similarly, she had watch over him during the times when he was too ill to talk to us, such as telling us what he could possibly like to wear.

Both of them have their own medical problems, of which the woman exhibited more of it physically speaking. It was painful to see her being in so much pain sometimes, even from just turning her on to her side – something I know I took for granted on a daily basis as I tunnel and funnel in my blankets. She could barely explain her pain to us as both her partner and her speaks mostly portuguese, and she slips in and out of confusion on a daily basis.

About 2 weeks ago, the husband ended up in hospital due to a fractured hip. This is not uncommon in the elderly, especially those with mobility problems. What became a problem was how she slipped further after he was gone into the hospital. As it was, her health was going downhill, but with him gone, it became worse. A week after he left for the hospital, they had to use a machine to drain the mucous from her lungs.

“she isn’t going to be long now,” the supervising nurse said to me.

I kind of groped around my bag for the book of prayers I have been carrying with me ever since the last death. and then, I stopped. I sauntered over to her room, and gently wiped her clammy face. “hang on for a little while longer, Rose, just hang on. Let Bill see you for one last time before you go.” I begged her quietly. It technically has nothing to do with me, how much she can hold on or whether he sees her or not. I just put myself in their shoes, and I think if it was my baby on that bed, I don’t want to not be with her for the last time.

Neither did I know when he would even be able to make it back too.

Regardless of what I asked of her, I decided to make up a prayer for her anyways and kissed her forehead.

She died 8 hours later, in the wee hours of the morning. and he, after hearing the news from their children, another 4 days later.

In a very dark way, it was all for the best. By all accounts, they were very close and devoted to each other. That one should live without the other felt like a needless cruelty. In their living, they have crossed many bridges of problems, solutions, happiness and bitterness – it is only right that they should depart in togetherness – the way a relationship should work.