She didnt know

She could smell it in the room. It was the smell of gauze and bacitracin. Filling the air.

She hoped the ending would be good.

But the nurse would not pass her glance.

She watched the people come and go through the emergency room, with no worry.

But her husband did not come through.

She became familiar with room, counted each tile and door, but he never came through.

A doctor came through the double doors, stethoscope in hand. His gaze followed the tiles to her feet.

“I’m sorry Mrs. Parrish, but he refused.”

Her heart sank, millions of questions stepped down to one: “but he has myself and children why would he refuse?” she asked.

“We don’t know but he refused life.”

She was in a pit. He refused life as the doctor had said. There was no way to know, or for the why.

She didn’t know.