A few days ago I ran into a lady I
know, and I found out that she recently lost her husband. Her husband had
cancer, from asbestos. They diagnosed him last December, he passed in August.
She’s doing what any of us would be doing in her place, she’s going to work,
going about her daily activities, doing what needs to be done, she’s holding
up, she’s… surviving…
But she’s devastated, she looks
terrible, she’s aged, and her eyes are sad. Her eyes are vast pits of sadness,
I could barely stand to look into them, such was the loneliness, the
hopelessness, the unadulterated, boundless, inexplicable, all-encompassing
despair.
Seeing her didn’t so much as take my
breath away as it quite simply sucked it so violently out of my ribcage I
wondered if I would ever breath again. I had no words, no comfort to give,
nothing to offer that could possibly make her feel better, because, let’s be
honest nothing will make her feel better for a really, really long time.
And all throughout this brief
encounter, as I let her talk because talking about it seemed what she needed in
that moment, as I looked at her, tried to show her support, tried to express
something, anything that would show her I cared, a teeny voice whispered in my
ear… “there, but for the grace of God, go I”.
Linking up today with Shell at Things I Can't Say
You write so powerfully. A very touching post. I'm at a loss for words... thanks for sharing so honestly.
ReplyDeleteYou write what everybody in your shoes would have thought. But you, my dear, have the guts to say it out loud. And it doesn't mean you feel any less for her...
ReplyDeleteand thank you for reading, and commenting.
ReplyDeleteBrilliantly honest and written beautifully, as always.
ReplyDeleteThis gave me the chills. It could easily happen to any of us.
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful. I felt like I was in that moment with you. Stopping by from Shell's Pour Your Heart Out.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad story. So glad you were there for her. Leigh
ReplyDeleteHaving lost a child I can tell you it WILL get better for her, as it did for me. But it takes time, time and more time.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad story! I'm glad you were there for her.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a sad story. I cannot even imagine! You are so right.....
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your friend. I cannot imagine the depths of her pain.
ReplyDeleteHow horrible. I've been close to a similar kind of devastation, and it definitely made me wonder why not me? So far. Thank GOD!! But why? Why were my friends randomly chosen to live through hell and me to merely witness it?
ReplyDeleteI know, my husband was diagnosed with leukemia, twice, and so when I hear cancer... well... it really could've been me. It still could. But not yet, not today. And that's enough for now.
ReplyDeletethanks, I really think it's unimaginable.
ReplyDeleteloss is always terrible.
ReplyDeletelosing someone you love is truly terrible
ReplyDeleteI know, but as you well know when you're going through it... you just have to get through it, nothing anyone says matters. I'm sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteThanks, and thanks for stopping by and commenting
ReplyDeleteThanks! and thanks for commenting!
ReplyDeleteI never realized it, not until my husband got sick, and now it's all I can think of.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteSaying it out loud makes it less scary, I guess.
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrible situation! I hope that you did give her comfort in that moment of time.
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh- i actually feel like i've stopped mid-breath...
ReplyDeletewhat an amazing post...i'm totally emotional at the moment with our huge move etc ahead- so tears are always so close to the surface these days- but this has just floored me...
i wish i could just sit with you. make you tea and say it will all be alright- but i guess none of us can promise each other this so instead i'm just thinking of you....
melissa {Miss Sew & So}
xx
That's horrid. But I'm sure she was grateful for the moment of support.
ReplyDelete