Just Until February

   It was January 27^th, and the Northern Minnesota Hospice Center was quiet. Harry sat at the front desk, there was nothing to do. Usually there was at least a phone call, paperwork to fill out, something to busy himself with, but today Harry was getting paid to play solitaire on the ancient computer that sat on the desk. He scanned the room, wondering if there is anything that he could possible do to feel useful. Nothing. He stood up and walked across the room, to the window. Harry stared out at the snow. It had been a while since it snowed, a relief to many. Harry noticed a car pull up to the curb in front of the building. The SUV opened its door to reveal a little old lady who was supported by a younger women, presumably the daughter.  Harry grabbed a wheel chair from next to the desk and ran outside. He was met by a cold blast of air as he opened the door.

“Chilly isn’t it?” Harry said to the pair “Here ma’am, you can sit down.”

“No, that is all right. I’ll just walk.” replied the elderly women.

“Mom!” cried her daughter, “please, let the man help. We don’t want you to fall.”

“I won’t, heaven knows I’m not going to be walking for much longer. Please, just let me do this.” said the unsteady women.

“Here, let me help you ma’am.”

Together, Harry and the old lady’s daughter, supported the struggling women into the building.

The heat of the building was a relief to them all, as they sat the women down in a plastic chair.

“So what can I help you two with today ma’am?” asked Harry.

“Please, call me Ingrid,” said the women “And I wish to stay here, until my time is up.”

“Well, let me get you a room so you can get situated.”

Harry walked over to his desk and picked up a binder.

“It seems we have an opening in room 8, does that sound all right?”

“Yes, perfect.” replied Ingrid.

“Can I take you in the wheel chair this time Mom?” asked Ingrid’s daughter.

“Yes, I suppose that would be fine.”

Harry pulled up a wheel chair.

“Thank you, my name is Susan, by the way.” said Ingrid’s daughter.

“Harry” said the employee, shaking Susan’s hand.

Susan wheeled Ingrid and Harry led the pair to room 8.

“Here it is” said Harry.

“Yes, this will do, may I lay down.” asked Ingrid.

“Of course.” said Harry, helping Ingrid into the bed.

Susan handed Ingrid a small bag.

“Here are your things mom.”

“Thank you sweetie”

“Susan, can I talk to you outside?” I asked.

“Sure thing, be back in a minute mom.”

“Okay dear.”

Susan and Harry stepped out of the white room.

“I need to have you fill out some forms. I need to know how long you think she’ll be here, why she’s here, and what she needs as far as medication goes.” said Harry.

“She doesn’t want any medication.”

“What?”

“She refuses to take anything. Both of her kidneys have given out, and the doctor says she probably won’t last the week.”

“That’s all right” shouted Ingrid, overhearing the conversation. “I only need to live ‘til February.”

“Well, we’ll be sure to keep her comfortable.” said Harry.

“Thank-you,” said Susan “I need to go, can I take the paperwork with me.”

“Of course, I’ll put it together for you.”

“I’ll see you later mother.”

“Of course dear.”

Harry collected the paperwork for Susan and sent her on her way. He then left the desk to see how Ingrid was settling in. He walked down the hall until he reached room 8. He knocked on the door and awaited a response, none came. So he opened the door slowly and crept in. Ingrid was asleep in her bed. Harry looked around the room, it seemed like Ingrid had made herself at home already. She had laid out a quilt on top of her and several pictures on her bedside table. One of them stood out to Harry the most. It was a picture of who he assumed to be Ingrid and her husband on their wedding day.  They were standing next to each other with beaming smiles as snow slowly fluttered to the ground.

“You know, it’s impolite to snoop around in someone’s room.”

Harry bolted upright, not realizing what he had done. He put down the picture.

“Oh, I am just teasing dear.” chided Ingrid. She peered at the photograph “It’s beautiful isn’t it.”

Harry nodded.

“Do you know what his name was? His name was Harry. He died of cancer about two months ago”

Harry shuffled his feet. “I’m sorry.”

“No, no.” said Ingrid “It was his time. He was in so much pain, sometimes I thought that the only reason he kept on living was for me, he couldn’t keep making that choice forever.”

“Ingrid, why won’t you take your medicine?”

“Because dear, enough is enough. I’m tired, I’m ready to ease out of this world and see him. I just think, each breath I take isn’t one breath less, but one breath closer to Harry.”

Harry looked at the floor.

“Besides, I only have to live until February.”

Harry looked up at the clock. “I have to go home, good night Ingrid.”

“Good night dear.”

Over the next week Harry returned to Ingrid’s room to check up on her and chat. She seemed happy and not at all sad that her days were beginning to get scarce. Harry watched her deterioration over the week. In a matter of days Ingrid had gone from a chipper old lady, to sleeping 18 hours a day. Harry was concerned for her, it seemed unlikely that she was to last until February.

Harry came into work the late shift on January 31. He put down his stuff at the front desk and went into Ingrid’s room.  She was sound asleep. The TV In the corner of her room was turned to the weather channel. Harry turned it off.

Ingrid immediately awakened.

“No, no, no, Harry, leave that on.”

Not realizing what he had done Harry returned the television to its original state.

“I’m sorry, dear. I just need to know the weather.”

“Why is that?”

“I just want to know if I’ll be able to see the snow one last time.”

“Well I’m afraid it’s not supposed to snow for another week.”

“Well, one can only hope.”

Ingrid looked around.

“What time is it?” croaked Ingrid.

Harry glanced at his watch.

“Ten forty five.”

“Oh dear, only a few more hours.”

Ingrid coughed a few times, with increasing violence.

“Harry dear, what if I don’t make it?”

“What do you mean?”

“What if I don’t make it until February?”

Harry could not think of a good answer to this question. There was a moment of pause.

“You’ll make it Ingrid. I just know you will.”

“Oh, well thank you dear you are very kind.”

Ingrid coughed again. It lasted several minutes until she was gasping for breath. Harry picked up the picture of Ingrid’s late husband.

“Can you tell me about him?”

“What’s that dear?”

“Can you tell me about Harry?”

“Dear, Harry was the most amazing man that you could ever meet. He was kind, caring, and most importantly, he loved me. I don’t know how I possible landed him, but I did, and I never took that for granted.”

“What did he do?”

“Oh, he worked a series of odd jobs, anything to pay the rent, support our family, keep us on our feet. The one job that finally stuck was at the local elementary school. He was a janitor, nothing fancy, but he loved it. He got to see all kinds of kids, he made it his goal to know each and every name. He would tell them jokes, make them giggle. One day he bought them a bunch of brand new dodge balls,” Ingrid laughed, “He was eating nothing but cereal for a month, but he thought it was worth it. It was never about him, always about someone else, and I loved that about him.”

Ingrid and Harry talked for what seemed like years. Ingrid looked progressively more tired as the night went on.

“What time is it now, dear?”

“Eleven forty five, Ingrid. We’re almost there.”

“Oh, dear me, fifteen minutes is much too long, I feel so tired.” Ingrid coughed again.

“Harry, you can’t let me fall asleep, I’m afraid that I won’t wake up again.”

“I won’t let that happen Ingrid.”

Harry stood up opened the window, letting in a breeze of cold air.

“There, that ought to help. Now, tell me Ingrid, tell me, anything, tell me about your wedding.”

“Oh, it was magical. The snow was falling, but it wasn’t too cold. We were both so happy. I wanted that moment to last forever, but of course, nothing can last forever.”

Harry felt as if he were about to cry, but he couldn’t, and he shouldn’t, for Ingrid’s sake. Ingrid’s head started to sink toward her pillow.

“Keep talking Ingrid, we’re almost there, I’d love to hear more.”

“Dear, I’d love to talk about him forever, but… I just don’t think I have the energy.”

“Ingrid, you have to hold on, there are only ten minutes left.”

“I know dear, I’m just so tired.”

Harry held Ingrid’s hand in his own. It was cold, but at the same time it gave off a warmth.

“Ingrid listen to me, you are amazing. If you’ve made it this far, you can make it another ten minutes.”

“Yes, dear.”

They stayed that way as the time ticked on. Each breath seemed a little more ragged. Finally, it was eleven fifty nine.

“Almost there, Ingrid.”

Then as if by magic the snow started to fall. It was light and serene, like falling feathers or specks of light.

“Ingrid, look, it’s snowing.”

“Oh, dear me, it is.”

Then the clock struck midnight with a chime, and it was as if time stood still. It was the most beautiful moment one could imagine. The light of the moon reflected off the snowflakes as the breeze carried them through the window and onto Ingrid’s face.

“Happy anniversary, Harry.” whispered Ingrid.

She then closed her eyes, and took one deep and final breath.

She was at peace.

Harry felt that he should do something, close the window, move her, but it didn’t seem right. So, he left her there, for the night. He wiped away tears and closed her door, glad that he was able to meet her and give her one last wish.