S is for Silence

The utter silence.

I think that's what got to me.

After a week of machines and alarms,

of raspy breaths and the hum of the oxygen

it was suddenly silent.

I had sat by her bedside, holding her hand

during those last couple of hours.

She received her blessing from the priest.

Then she took a couple of deep breaths

and that was it.

My husband came in the room

and I asked him to turn off the oxygen

and then it was suddenly 

just quiet.

Even all the fowl in the yard seemed to sense the need for silence.

No sheep bleating in the distance.

Just nothing.

For a few moments.

We sat like that in silence,

tears streaming down our faces.

We held her hand.

And then it was time to let go...