Late..for a very important date..
She was breathless…When she rushed into the elevator, she hit the button that said “1A” but I knew she really meant 1. I didn’t say anything because I thought maybe she was meeting a friend on a different parking level. She was fishing in her purse and came up with a piece of paper that she was examining closely.
I finally said, “You OK?”
“Yeah…I’ve got to make sure I know where I’m going…I’m late.”
The elevator door opened and she took a giant step out only to realize she did not want to be on this floor and she let out an “OH NO” at the same time. So I told the next floor up is really the lobby floor to the cancer center and that was probably where she wanted to go.
‘OH Yes” she said, “Thank YOU”
We smiled at each other and I told her not to worry…she’d make it on time and if she didn’t that would be OK too….no one would turn her away.
“OH, you don’t understand….I don’t have cancer anymore. This is my second 3 month check-up and I’m feeling so good, I can’t wait to see my doctor.” “I don’t want to be late.”
I just smiled and as the elevator door opened again, she bounded out and as she sped away, she turned, said thanks again and wished me a good day.
What a grand smile there was on her face…..an N-E-D smile. There’s nothing like it!
January 23, 2013 @ 11:27 am
It’s great to read something so uplifting. I remember my aunt who had a bowel cancer and doctor told her, she will not make it past one year from the time she was diagnosed. My cousin and I would sometimes question how she found so much strength to go for treatments and took so much time to prepare herself to look good. when we drove her there, she would only talk about the other people who will be enduring the radiation treatments and how they need to see there is life after you win this battle. She passed away 3 years later, suffering tremendously, regardless of her own suffering she always put smile on faces of others at the hospital! Her courage will be remembered by her family and by some others who now live cancer free.
January 16, 2013 @ 8:28 pm
Good story! Two perfect strangers brought sunshine to the other for that moment and to savor for a little while.
January 16, 2013 @ 7:16 pm
I wish all could have those three words said to them at the end. NED. Makes all the difference in the world, you made it, you’re here for a while longer. Only taken me about six years to finally almost kinda sorta get used to maybe accepting that fact.
Perhaps some day it will be so for everyone.