The sun smiled down on her as she sits on the bench in the park. The sky was almost clear with some clouds drifting slowly with the breeze. It is as perfect as weather could get in this part of the world. She remember a time where she felt that the heat and humidity was something that she could do without in her home. But at this age, the heat and humidity does a lot to keep her warm.
She smiled as she watched her grandchildren horsing around in the playground nearby. It has been a wonderful journey for her and it is now time to rest. She has spent enough time living life and has come full circle to the beginning with the birth of her latest grandchild. It is now time for the end.
Mabel came running to her grandmother for comfort after she tumbled down the slide. Her grandmother looked like she was sleeping with her eyes closed. As she reached her grandmother, she realized something was not right. She yelled for her dad, "Dad! Look, something is wrong with mama! Come, Daddy!"
Dylan turned when he heard his daughter's cry. The five year old was two feet away from her grandmother who was sitting on a bench with her head at a weird angle. Was mom sleeping? He ran towards his mother and as he approached, his heartbeat accelerated out of fear.
His tears couldn't stop flowing as the realization that the woman who was a big part of his life is no longer breathing. He called for an ambulance while he cradled Mabel who couldn't understand why her dad was crying as he was on the phone. Why was grandmother not moving?
Dylan called out to Peter. Peter realized something was very wrong and picked up each of his kid in each arm and went as fast as he could to his youngest brother and mom. The twins struggled to break free as their dad kept his strangle hold on them. Peter knew that he was now in charge of the family when he saw his beloved mother with her eyes closed. They would have to call Gene who is on work assignment in the US. He'd have to make his journey home to send their mother on her last.
There would be the funeral to organize, relatives and his mother's friends to be informed, not to mention the paperwork that he undoubtedly would have to plough through after all the ceremonial tasks have been completed. "Dear God, help me, give me strength" were his thoughts as he put the boys down and knelt in front of his mother.
