husband.਍ऀ䤀琀ᤀ猠 戀攀攀渀 礀攀愀爀猀 猀椀渀挀攀 琀栀攀渀⸀ 圀攀 渀漀眀 栀愀瘀攀 琀栀爀攀攀 欀椀搀猀☀琠栀爀攀攀 欀椀搀猀 眀栀漀洀 䤀ᤀ搠 戀攀 氀攀愀瘀椀渀最 猀漀漀渀⸀ 吀栀爀攀攀 欀椀搀猀 䤀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 攀渀琀椀爀攀氀礀 氀攀昀琀⸀ 䴀愀爀欀 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 洀礀 氀椀昀攀 猀椀渀挀攀 琀栀攀渀 愀渀搀 渀漀眀☀渠漀眀 椀琀ᤀ猠 愀氀洀漀猀琀 漀瘀攀爀⸀ഀ

  He turned around and saw me awake. He took a deep breath, put down the mug on our side table and sat down beside me on bed.਍ऀᰀ䠠攀礀Ⰰᴀ†䠀攀 猀愀椀搀⸀ഀ

  “Hey…”਍ऀ䠀攀 琀愀瀀瀀攀搀 洀礀 栀愀渀搀 愀渀搀 栀攀氀搀 椀琀⸀ 䠀攀 琀漀漀欀 愀 搀攀攀瀀 戀爀攀愀琀栀 愀渀搀 欀椀猀猀攀搀 洀攀 漀渀 琀栀攀 昀漀爀攀栀攀愀搀⸀ ᰀ䤠 氀漀瘀攀 礀漀甀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀㼀ᴀഠ

  I nodded my head, “I’m sorry you have to go through all these…”਍ऀᰀ䤠琀ᤀ猠 渀漀琀 攀瘀攀渀 栀愀氀昀 漀昀 眀栀愀琀 礀漀甀ᤀ爠攀 最漀椀渀最 琀栀爀漀甀最栀⸀ᴀ†䠀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ吠漀洀漀爀爀漀眀Ⰰ 眀攀ᤀ氠氀 最漀 琀漀 琀栀攀 搀漀挀琀漀爀猀Ⰰ 猀攀攀 眀栀愀琀 攀氀猀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 搀漀渀攀᐀ᰠഠ

  “No, don’t,” I said, “Please don’t…the medicines just…just work bad on my body, radiation isn’t good and—“਍ऀᰀ䬠椀洀Ⰰ 眀攀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 搀漀 琀栀椀猀⸀ 夀漀甀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 最攀琀 戀攀琀琀攀爀⸀ᴀഠ

  “We know I am not gonna get better. The doctors said so.”਍ऀᰀ䄠渀搀 礀漀甀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀 琀栀攀洀㼀ᴀ†ഀ

  “Mark, all I’m saying is, I don’t wanna spend the last few days of my life—“਍ऀᰀ䐠伀一ᤀ吠 匀䄀夀 吀䠀䄀吀℀ᴀഠ

  “Oh, please, let’s be realistic here. I just don’t want to spend my final days in a hospital, feeling like…like crap. Like I’m not even living. I want to spend it with you, with the kids, with my sisters, with people I love and didn’t even give enough time to.” I said and looked him in the eye, “I just want to be here with all of you, before I…before I die.”਍ऀ䠀攀 琀漀漀欀 愀 搀攀攀瀀 戀爀攀愀琀栀Ⰰ ᰀ吠栀愀琀ᤀ猠 攀渀漀甀最栀⸀ᴀഠ

  “Mark,”਍ऀᰀ传欀愀礀Ⰰ 漀欀愀礀Ⰰ 昀椀渀攀Ⰰ 眀攀ᤀ氠氀 搀漀 眀栀愀琀攀瘀攀爀 礀漀甀 琀栀椀渀欀 椀猀 爀椀最栀琀⸀ᴀഠ

  “Thanks,”਍ऀᰀ䤠 氀漀瘀攀 礀漀甀⸀ᴀഠ

  “I love you too.”਍ऀ䄀渀搀 琀栀攀渀 眀攀 欀椀猀猀攀搀⸀ 圀攀 欀椀猀猀攀搀 攀瘀攀渀 琀栀漀甀最栀 戀漀琀栀 漀昀 甀猀 眀攀爀攀 挀爀礀椀渀最Ⰰ 攀瘀攀渀 琀栀漀甀最栀 戀漀琀栀 漀昀 甀猀 眀攀爀攀 椀渀 瀀愀椀渀⸀ 䠀攀 眀愀猀 栀漀氀搀椀渀最 洀攀㬀 爀漀挀欀椀渀最 洀攀㬀 栀攀 眀愀猀 戀攀椀渀最 洀礀 爀漀挀欀⸀ഀ

  “Remember when we first met?” He asked as he was holding me, “It was like, you barely even talked to me! You were so headstrong…You were…”਍ऀᰀ䤠 眀愀猀 猀栀礀Ⰰᴀ†䤀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀⸀ഀ

  “No! You weren’t…”਍ऀ ᰀ夠攀猀Ⰰ 䤀 眀愀猀⸀ᴀ†䤀 猀洀椀氀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ䤠 樀甀猀琀 挀漀甀氀搀渀ᤀ琠 氀攀琀 礀漀甀 猀攀攀 琀栀愀琀 挀漀稀 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀☀圠攀 樀甀猀琀 洀攀琀⸀ᴀഠ

  He laughed, “Ooh so you liked me initially?”਍ऀᰀ丠漀℀ᴀഠ

  “Come on, Kimmie, don’t dare deny it…”਍ऀ䤀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ夠漀甀Ⰰ 栀漀眀攀瘀攀爀Ⰰ 眀攀爀攀 猀漀 椀渀 氀漀瘀攀 眀椀琀栀 洀攀℀ᴀഠ

  “Well…”਍ऀᰀ圠攀氀氀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Yeah, well, you were right. Honestly, you just…It was like, you made me into this whole new person.”਍ऀᰀ夠漀甀ᤀ爠攀 猀漀甀渀搀椀渀最 氀椀欀攀 漀渀攀 漀昀 䌀愀爀漀氀椀渀攀ᤀ猠 爀漀洀愀渀琀椀挀 渀漀瘀攀氀猀℀ᴀഠ

  “No, no, seriously. I knew you and I were too different. And I was like, man, this girl is just so hot to be so smart. And I needed to find a way to talk to you, so I took that boat and paddled for you and your group.”਍ऀᰀ删攀愀氀氀礀㼀ᴀ†䤀 爀愀椀猀攀搀 愀渀 攀礀攀戀爀漀眀⸀ഀ

  “What? I told you that before.”਍ऀ䤀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ夠漀甀ᤀ瘠攀 渀攀瘀攀爀 戀攀攀渀 猀眀攀攀琀 椀渀 愀 眀栀椀氀攀☀ᴠഠ

  “And have you?”਍ऀ䤀 猀洀椀氀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ匠漀爀爀礀 䤀 栀愀瘀攀渀ᤀ琠 戀攀攀渀 琀栀攀 瀀攀爀昀攀挀琀 眀椀昀攀⸀ᴀഠ

  “Quit it.” He said, “I’m not a perfect husband too.”਍ऀ䤀 琀漀漀欀 愀 搀攀攀瀀 戀爀攀愀琀栀Ⰰ ᰀ䠠愀瘀攀 礀漀甀 攀瘀攀爀 挀栀攀愀琀攀搀 漀渀 洀攀㼀ᴀഠ

  “No,” He said, “There were days when I thought about it, but then again, honey, you’re enough for me. More than enough. And besides, those years of my life are over. I love you.”਍ऀ䤀 猀洀椀氀攀搀Ⰰ ᠀䤠 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀 礀漀甀⸀ᴀഠ

  ‘Have you?”਍ऀᰀ圠栀愀琀㼀 䌀栀攀愀琀攀搀 漀渀 礀漀甀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Yeah…”਍ऀ䤀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ夠漀甀 猀攀爀椀漀甀猀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Yeah, why?”਍ऀᰀ丠漀琀栀椀渀最Ⰰᴀ†䤀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ圠攀氀氀☀漠欀愀礀☀戠愀挀欀 眀栀攀渀 眀攀 眀攀爀攀 樀甀猀琀☀搠愀琀椀渀最Ⰰ 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 䤀 眀愀猀 欀椀渀搀 漀昀☀眠攀氀氀Ⰰ 攀洀愀椀氀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀⸀ᴀഠ

  “What?!”਍ऀᰀ圠愀椀琀Ⰰ 氀椀猀琀攀渀 琀漀 洀攀 昀椀爀猀琀Ⰰᴀ†䤀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ ᰀ圠攀 眀攀爀攀 漀氀搀 昀爀椀攀渀搀☀渠漀Ⰰ 渀漀琀 攀瘀攀渀 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀⸀ 䠀攀 眀愀猀 樀甀猀琀 漀渀攀 漀昀 漀甀爀 挀氀椀攀渀琀猀 愀渀搀 眀攀 栀愀搀 愀 挀漀甀瀀氀攀 漀昀 搀愀琀攀猀Ⰰ 琀栀攀渀 栀攀 眀攀渀琀 琀漀 琀栀攀 唀䬀 愀渀搀 眀攀 挀漀洀洀甀渀椀挀愀琀攀搀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 攀ⴀ洀愀椀氀猀☀戠甀琀 琀栀愀琀 眀愀猀 琀栀愀琀⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 礀漀甀 愀渀搀 䤀 眀攀渀琀 琀漀 琀栀愀琀 栀漀氀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 眀愀氀氀 爀攀猀琀愀甀爀愀渀琀 愀渀搀 栀愀搀 琀栀愀琀 氀漀渀最 琀愀氀欀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀昀琀攀爀 礀漀甀 挀愀氀氀攀搀 洀攀 甀瀀 琀栀攀 昀漀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 搀愀礀☀䤠 眀愀猀 椀渀 愀眀攀⸀ 䤀 眀愀猀 氀椀欀攀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 最甀礀☀栠攀 搀攀猀攀爀瘀攀猀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 搀愀琀攀⸀ 䄀渀搀 䤀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀 琀愀氀欀椀渀最 琀漀 琀栀愀琀 漀琀栀攀爀 最甀礀⸀ 䤀 渀攀瘀攀爀 洀攀渀琀椀漀渀攀搀 栀椀洀 琀漀 礀漀甀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀☀戠攀挀愀甀猀攀 礀漀甀 愀渀搀 䤀Ⰰ 眀攀 栀愀瘀攀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 戀攀愀甀琀椀昀甀氀⸀ 匀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 䤀 搀椀搀渀ᤀ琠 眀愀渀渀愀 最攀琀 爀甀椀渀攀搀⸀ 䄀渀搀 䤀 洀愀搀攀 琀栀攀 爀椀最栀琀 挀栀漀椀挀攀Ⰰ 爀椀最栀琀㼀 唀渀琀椀氀 䤀 昀氀椀瀀瀀攀搀 愀 洀漀渀琀栀 戀愀挀欀☀ᴠഠ

  “We all make mistakes.”਍ऀᰀ䤠 愀氀洀漀猀琀 氀漀猀琀 礀漀甀⸀ᴀഠ

  He squeezed my hand and kissed me on the forehead.਍ऀᰀ䴠愀爀欀Ⰰ 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 欀椀搀猀 最爀漀眀 甀瀀Ⰰ 搀漀 礀漀?
?? 琀栀椀渀欀 琀栀攀礀ᤀ氠氀 戀攀 昀椀渀攀㼀 䐀漀 礀漀甀 琀栀椀渀欀 眀攀 爀愀椀猀攀搀 琀栀攀洀 眀攀氀氀㼀ᴀഠ

  “Of course,” He said, “I net Kurt’s gonna be a rocket scientist,”਍ऀ䤀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ传爀 愀 瘀攀琀⸀ 䠀攀 搀漀攀猀 氀漀瘀攀 愀渀椀洀愀氀猀⸀ᴀഠ

  “Yeah, that he does! Remember when we were at Robbie’s and Caroline’s and he saw that squirrel? He brought it home!”਍ऀ䤀 氀愀甀最栀攀搀Ⰰ ᰀ夠攀愀栀 愀渀搀 眀攀 昀爀攀愀欀攀搀℀ᴀഠ

  “No, you freaked! Clean Freak!”਍ऀᰀ匠栀甀琀 甀瀀℀ᴀഠ

  We were laughing/ He went on, “Marcia will become…hmmm…what…”਍ऀᰀ䄠渀 攀瘀攀渀琀猀 瀀氀愀渀渀攀爀⸀ 吀栀攀 欀椀搀 栀愀猀 攀渀攀爀最礀⸀ᴀഠ

  “Good idea,” He smiled, “And Katherine will be a writer…”਍ऀᰀ夠攀愀栀Ⰰ 猀栀攀ᤀ猠 焀甀椀琀攀 猀洀愀爀琀⸀ᴀഠ

  “Like you.”਍ऀᰀ传栀Ⰰ 猀栀甀琀 椀琀Ⰰ 䴀愀爀欀Ⰰ 礀漀甀ᤀ爠攀 戀攀琀琀攀爀 琀栀愀渀 洀攀⸀ᴀഠ

  He smiled, “Well, honey, why don’t we go to bed? Caroline’s picking you up early