The final journey

   He was a farmer and salesman. He raised five children and loved one woman for almost fifty-seven years.  His mind has wandered off to places where loved ones cannot follow.  He lives alone now in a small room the color of sunshine.  On the walls hang the pictures of the pieces of his life. His days are filled with waiting for three o'clock to arrive when his beloved wife arrives.  She sits by his side for several hours holding his hand. Sometimes they sit in silence, other times she tells them stories of their lives.  When supper time comes she gently feeds him food that someone else prepared.  She kisses him good night and promises to return tomorrow.
   Last week she received the news that his kidneys are failing and medical science has no help for them.  He is making his way slowly from this life to the next.  She is sad but is resigned because the pain of watching him disappear before eyes is hard to bear.  It would be more merciful for him to go quickly, painlessly into the new life that awaits him.  But she sits day after day, treasuring the moments left knowing that too soon and not soon enough for him, he will be gone.
   Love calls us into unexpected places.