Love You till Your Last Breath

The unknown Place

Beeps, murmuring and other sounds jolted her back to her senses. She looked around but couldn’t figure out the place. There he was, she took a sigh of relief to see her husband. He looked tired and why on earth was he listening to that women so intently. Oh wait she just realized she was not just any woman but a nurse. Now she paid attention to the blurred background noises she was ignoring earlier. This unfamiliar place was a hospital . She felt a shiver. Is something wrong with him. Is the nurse telling him that he is suffering from some incurable disease. She would get insane by guessing so she took long strides to reach him. He was completely ignoring her. She waved, snapped her fingers but in vain. Now the concern started to turn in anger. Before she could ask anything at all her husband started to go with the nurse. Left with no choice but to follow them, she went behind them. The entered in a private room. She had reached the limit to be ignored just as she was about to grab his shoulder something caught her attention that made her jump back in utter shock.

Right in the middle of the room there was a single bed with lots of apparatus and tubes .All that apparatus was attached to a woman. No, not just any woman. A woman who looked just like her. She was unconscious and surrounded by the kind of apparatus she had only seen in movies. She turned to her husband. Before she could inquire anything she couldn’t believe her ears. “We are trying our best to save your wife, at this moment you have no option but to wait" said the nurse and left the room.

No this woman was no doppelganger... this was she ...her flesh, her body ...her spirit realized this as she stood dumbfounded next to her husband. Who was as alone as his reflection in the glass door.

The Happy Couple

Sarah and Derek, a happy couple. Their life was as normal as it could be. Sarah, a kindergarten teacher. Derek, an artist. They had a little world of their own. Their home was their sanctuary. Scattered paint brushes and canvas spoke of Derek’s messy habits. Stacked children books, chart papers and planners gave hint of Sarah’s organised nature. The two opposite attracted and made this place home.

Home. Oh what would happen to my home? Did we turn the lights off? Are the windows shut. I hope Derek’s paint has not spilled on the carpet. Wait! She reminded herself all this would matter only if she comes out alive.

She mustered courage and went near her body. She was appalled to see her bruised face and colorless lips. She looked plain and she hated it. Not because she expected her best version in this lifeless form but because it reminded her that...

The Argument

“Plain you look so very plain.”

This was a busy day for the couple .Derek’s friends have arranged a big get together at a nearby gallery. Sarah was going crazy as she couldn’t make up her mind about the clothes. She really wanted to put a good impression on Derek’s friends. She was a confident woman, a pro in her field. A day off and children’s activities would come to halt without her. But that was there in her turf. This was Derek’s world. She had no idea what she would talk, what the discussions would be like. Would she end up looking naive among them. She was having all these and more frightening thoughts while holding two dresses in front of the mirror. She finally made her mind for the beige dress.

In the evening she got ready. She looked so elegant with her hair tied in a bun. She had put on peach lipstick with just a little tint on her cheeks. Her dewy look made her look so radiant. Her insecurity of being a misfit now started to seem silly to her. Expecting a compliment she stepped in front of Derek. Before she could turn around to show off her bun. Derek’s reaction stopped her right there. “plain you look so very plain" . Not only the words were degrading but the look on his face brought back all her insecurities. Every expression on his face conveyed dissatisfaction. His eyes spoke disapproval. She refused to change and they fought and he ended up going alone at the dinner. She cried that night and called her best friend who suggested to leave home and come to her right away.

Oh did some one tell Zakia about my accident. She thought amidst her bitter memory.

The Best Friend

Sarah wasn’t really thrilled when she came to know that administration had made a two day workshop mandatory for kindergarten teachers. She already had so many pending tasks. Workshop would delay them further. She entered the venue bit lost in her thoughts. A thud brought her back from her reverie . So lost she was, she hadn’t realized that she had bumped in to someone. Before she could apologize the other woman warmly said “its ok".

Sarah couldn’t think of what else to say so she extended her arm for a hand shake.

“Hi I am Sarah”

“Hi Zakia”

That was it. The two accompanied each other throughout the workshop and had the most amazing time. Farewell was brief as just after two days the two teachers had lunch together and then there was no looking back for their friendship.

The workshop she was so unwilling to attend gave her a friend and later a best friend.

Sarah recalled the time where she had invited Zakia over dinner. It was so important for her that her best friend and husband approve each other. The doorbell made her jump on her feet. Her home reeked with the smell of scrumptious dishes nicely set at the dinner table. All three had such a nice time together. Next day Sarah met Zakia and asked the most awaited question that how did she find Derek. “Too cute for you" Zakia replied with a raised eyebrow and then both best friends had laughing fits.

She started laughing and then suddenly stopped. She took a look at her body. Just yesterday everything was so normal. Her home, her concerns were so normal. Concern for husband’s approval for dressing,concern for best friend and husband to befriend each other .These are the kind of concerns a normal person in a normal state would have. No this was not normal, this was a torture standing next to your body and watching your husband in misery. Feeling every emotion but unable to do anything about it. Sarah looked around the bleak room and hoped all this would end soon just one way or the other