Death By Cancer!!
Posted 30th July 2009 at 08:11 PM by Eliahna
My high school best friend is in town to sit by the bedside of her mother and wait for the inevitable. One day, one moment, very very soon, seventy years of love and laughter and life is just going to wink out, like a light being turned off. When I think about it, I cry, but I can go hours at a time without thinking about it. I wish my friend could escape from it from time to time like I do, but nothing sits furthermost in your mind than the sure and immediate knowledge that your mother is dying.
And where I am I? Giving her a break from her nine-month-old from time to time? Taking her food, news, distractions? Being there for her? Nope, I'm home with a sixteen-month-old who has measles, avoiding my best friend in her time of need because if there's anything worse than Death By Cancer!! it's Death By Cancer - And Your Baby Has Measles!!.
So here I sit... in this still and silent house, waiting for the beep of my phone to tell me she's gone, wishing I could be there for my friend.
And where I am I? Giving her a break from her nine-month-old from time to time? Taking her food, news, distractions? Being there for her? Nope, I'm home with a sixteen-month-old who has measles, avoiding my best friend in her time of need because if there's anything worse than Death By Cancer!! it's Death By Cancer - And Your Baby Has Measles!!.
So here I sit... in this still and silent house, waiting for the beep of my phone to tell me she's gone, wishing I could be there for my friend.
Total Comments 3
Comments
-
Speaking from experience, your friend knows you're there for her, even if you can't be there physically. My best friend wasn't able to be there when my dad died, and I wasn't able to be there when her mom died, but knowing that we were able to pick up the phone at any moment and talk was a relief and a blessing.
There will be more times for you to step in and help. You're her best friend, so you'll be there when everyone else has gone. You'll know that grief doesn't have a timeline, so you'll be a shoulder when the rest of the world has moved on, but your friend hasn't. Best friends do things like that--I know mine does.Posted 31st July 2009 at 07:24 PM by Carolia 
-
Thanks. You're right, so right.
She passed away this morning. At least the terrible agony of waiting is over... now the terrible agony of getting on with things begins.Posted 31st July 2009 at 08:36 PM by Eliahna
-
That is the hard part. I'll be thinking of your friend.
Posted 2nd August 2009 at 11:06 AM by Carolia
