“One more month dear, get that look off yer face. We’re almost done.” Carl pursed his mouth as he took a sip of hot coffee. The bitter taste was vile, and his stomach gurgled loudly in protest.
Penny turned around to face the calendar. She couldn’t watch. She knew why he kept it up, and she couldn’t see a way out. She reached for her pen, and marked a giant X across the date. One more month. That would see them through the worst of it.
Behind her, she could hear Carl shuffle towards the chair at the table. She reached over to the coffee pot. She could make him a fresh pot. That’s all she could do. Every day now for the past 60 days. Only 30 more to go.
She heard a soft gasp, and turned around. Carl was clutching his chest, the hot mug of coffee falling from his hand as she lunged for him.
They both sagged to the floor, his weight pulling her down, neither noticing the scalding liquid splashing across their hands. She held him in her arms, and he looked into her eyes.
“Let Kat know love. She can help.” He struggled to draw breath, and clenched his eyes shut for a moment as the pain raked his body. Penny held him tightly.
“Carl! Carl!” She pulled his head towards her heart and cradled him. He opened his eyes and looked at her. She would never forget the adoration and tenderness in that man’s eyes.
“It’s always been you Penny.” He struggled to draw breath. “I’ll go to heaven a happy man, for havin’ known you.”
Comments