Home » Family » It Is Time – Friday Fictioneers

It Is Time – Friday Fictioneers

Posted on by

Wednesday is here and I have to rush out to go to work.  Ugh.  There is a mountain of snow in front of my door and the white stuff is still falling!

Thank you, always, to Rochelle for hosting this weekly shindig and this week, thanks go to Jennifer Pendergast for her photo.  If you want to participate, click on Rochelle’s name for the rules and regs.  If you want to see what about 70 or so others have to say about this, click on the blue frog!

Genre:  True Story

It Is Time

As Nicole approached her father’s hospital room, she overheard him speaking.

“How long will I live once you turn off the oxygen?”

“About ten minutes,” she replied.

“Okay then, we are doing it today.”

“Hang on there, sir, that is a horrid way to go.  We can’t just turn it off without preparation!”

“Well, I’m done.  I want it done today.  It’s been long enough.  It is time.”

“If you are absolutely sure, we will prepare you so that you go gently.”

Nicole walked away from the door and called her sisters, sobbing, “You have to come to the hospital…”

108 thoughts on “It Is Time – Friday Fictioneers”

  11. My Dad’s latest test results say that his cancer has spread throughout his body including his liver. I don’t know how long he has, even with treatment.

    Yeah…just yeah.

    Liked by 1 person

    • That was my dad’s case too. Lung cancer that spread. Treatments that didn’t work. He wanted no heroics and decided on his own that it was time.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Even knowing it’s coming, you wish it wasn’t. Then, afterward, living in the void. I don’t know how we go on. Poorly, I suppose. At least, I’ve not done it well. You’re very strong to be able to write so clearly about it. I think you’ve touched something universal in all of us who’ve lived through it and foreshadowed the event for those who have yet to suffer it. Terrific story, Dale.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much, Kecia! I think when you’ve seen the person suffer, you just have to put aside your ego and support them. He smiled up until he was unconscious (even cracking jokes between morphine shots…)

      Liked by 1 person

  17. So sad, at least he was able to take some control at the end. Hard too for those who are left behind, we want to hold on to those we love as long as possible but not at the price of prolonging their suffering

    Liked by 1 person

  19. That poor woman… I know the dad is the one doing the dying, but to hear it like that and to know that nothing can be done makes me want to sob too. Like others have suggested, I hope the family can say goodbye.

    Liked by 1 person

    • It was my youngest sister who overheard. Thankfully we all live close to each other and were able to rallye…

      Like

  25. I feel for you, Dale. When my father died he was so far gone with infection and drugs we had to make the decision for him for treatment to be withdrawn. It was awful, but the medication was just prolonging things for him. It was his time. I’m so glad you could be there with you father and he knew you were there at the end. That’s what stays with you, isn’t it? All the best to you and thank you for sharing such a hard tale to tell

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Oh, Dale. That’s gut-wrenching. At least it was his decision. He told the illness that ‘he’ and not ‘it’ would decide when he went. Love and hugs, to you. He would be proud of you, if he could see you four years’ on, doing so well. xox.

    Liked by 1 person

    • It was a sad day indeed but you know, he would not have had it any other way. He had decided a while back and let us know it would be his choice. He just waited till he thought we were ready…
      Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

  39. I think we all wish we could decide when and how we will to go.
    This is touching, Dale. I thought it was fiction but see by the comments of others that it’s more personal. Thank you for shring your personal journey. BIG HUGS to you ….
    Isadora 😎

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.