"Oh,
no, I don't like that sound!" Daphne was listening to her husband's
labored breathing and recurrent bouts of apnea. He had drifted off
to sleep on the huge, leather lounge in the living room, his favorite place to relax after
dinner. "How
much longer will I have him with me?" Daphne wondered, as she realized
that his color was not good either.
Peter
slept very soundly. He was breathing deeply, almost snoring. He was
recovering from a recent bout of pneumonia and still under his doctor's
care. While he seemed to improve daily, his breathing still worried
Daphne.
“I don't know if he is strong
enough to survive another bout of pneumonia," she thought to herself.
"Sometimes, he just looks so exhausted and frail, but he never complains.
At least, his temperature is back to normal." Daphne got up from the chair,
where she had been sitting and placed a soft quilt over Peter. Seconds later
without awakening, he pushed it aside.
The
next day, Peter did not show up for supper on time which
was unusual for him, as normally he was very punctual. Daphne prepared
everything and waited. An hour went by and there was still no sign of
her husband. She had an uneasy feeling, almost like a premonition.
"Where
is he?" Daphne asked herself. "I don't even know where to
go looking for him, but I may have to start."
Becoming increasingly alarmed
about his lateness, Daphne sent him a text-message on her Blackberry.
"Hi honey, I have supper
all ready. Do want me to come and rescue you? I love you."
Moments later, she received
a photograph on her Blackberry. It was a picture of cherry trees in full
blossom.
"Slipped
away," thought Daphne. "But only to the love of his life, his photography, but it's only a
matter of time."
Later, when they were enjoying
dinner together, her husband apologized.
"Sorry, my love, I got so
busy taking pictures that I forgot all about the time."
"I know, dear. You
love your photography. Thank you for sending me that picture. The
cherry blossoms are gorgeous."
Several days later, he was gone.
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