Page 47 of Christmas Lights & Sleepless Nights
Keith shook his head. “But I’m not going to do that. What happens now?”
“Your case will be passed to our palliative care doctor for them to sign off. If all goes well, tomorrow we’ll take you off the ventilator and put you on a morphine drip.” Dr. Perez patted his arm. “That’ll make breathing easier.”
“What about my last wishes?”
Dr. Perez blinked.
“Mr. Braxton wants to see the outside world,” Anna explained. “And eat and drink normally.”
Dr. Perez nodded. “I think that can be arranged. Although be aware, you won’t manage more than a taste.”
“One taste is all I want. Then you can make me as comfortable as you like after that, but let me feel the sun on my face first.”
The doctor took Keith’s hand, patted it, then gave a nod before leaving.
Anna checked Keith’s monitor. “Do you need something for the pain?”
“It shows, huh?” The need for meds was almost constant.
She reached into the tray beside her, and Keith waited for the relief he knew was coming.
Making the decision had been difficult—waiting for the following day to arrive was infinitely harder.
“What would you like to do today?” Anna asked as she annotated his chart.
“Christmas movies sounds like a good way to go.” Anything not to have to think about what was coming.
“There’s a TV channel showing nothing but. My favorite Christmas movie of all time is on there.”
“What’s that?”
Her eyes twinkled. “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Keith smiled. “It’s mine too.”
Anna picked up the remote and aimed it at the TV screen. “I’ll be back shortly.”
And there he was, alone with his thoughts.
Will I see Yuri one more time before I go?
He hoped so. He had no idea what greater power had sent Yuri to him, but it comforted him to think Someone was watching over him.
Maybe Michael sent him.
Now there was a thought.
Keith opened his eyes to find Anna at his bedside. “Did I fall asleep?”
She nodded. “You missed the part where James Stewart meets Clarence, but I think you already know what happens.” Anna smiled. “You have some visitors.”
His heart pounded, and she regarded the monitor closely. Keith made an effort to stay calm, and Anna waited for a moment before she gave another smile. “That’s better. Let’s make you presentable, and then I’ll let them in.”
“How are you going to do that? Put a Santa hat on me?”
She laughed, and raised the head of his bed a little more. Then she smoothed his blanket and tidied his nightstand. “There. Now you’re ready.” Anna went out of the room.
Keith couldn’t help but smile when Heidi, Richard, Darrell and Winona came through the door, and behind them were Polly and her husband David, followed by Sandy and her wife Laura. They gathered around the bed, taking turns to kiss his cheek and squeeze his hand. He didn’t miss their tight faces, their reddened eyes, and he had to fight the urge to cry.
