Erin hurried along the hallway that led to Gran’s room. When the phone call had come this morning, though not unexpected, it had still been a shock. Gran had not responded to her for some days now and, although she had continued to visit and sit by her bedside and talk, she had known in her heart Gran was slipping away from her.
She paused outside the room and realised she was a little out of breath. You should come as soon as possible. She’s deteriorating quite rapidly. The nurse’s words echoed through her mind.
She’d never lost anyone before and facing the death of a loved one was a lot more confronting than Erin had anticipated. She wasn’t ready. Her gran had lived an exceptionally long life, but that did not give Erin much comfort. This was still her grandmother, a beautiful woman who had loved her and been a huge part of her life. It hurt terribly to know she was about to lose her forever.
Erin took a deep breath and forced herself to walk into the room.
Nothing had changed visibly, her gran still looked small and incredibly fragile, but her breathing was laboured. The small chest beneath the light blanket lifted and fell rapidly, and her breathing was far louder than seemed possible for such a small frame. The sound was rattly and harsh, leaving Erin feeling helpless.
She pressed the buzzer and after a few minutes the kindly middle-aged nurse who usually did the day shift came into the room.
‘Can’t you do something for her? She sounds like she’s struggling to breathe.’
‘That’s because she is struggling. She has a lot of fluid on her lungs.’ The nurse put a hand on Erin’s shoulder as they looked at the woman in the bed before them. ‘The doctors have done everything they can. It’s just a matter of time now.’
‘Is she in any pain?’
‘She hasn’t been responding to anything for the last two days. I don’t think she knows what’s happening. But it’s good that you came. She’d like to know you were here.’
Erin blinked and her throat ached with the effort of holding back tears. She didn’t hear the nurse leave the room, but she jumped a little when someone took a seat beside her.
‘Diane from the front desk called. Do you mind if I stay?’ Jamie’s deep voice sounded calm and gentle.
Erin shook her head, she couldn’t speak, it hurt too much, but she was incredibly grateful that Jamie was here. He didn’t talk, he just sat beside her and laid his hand on top of hers and Gran’s in a silent show of support.