From "Can You See The Music?" by Reagan McGuire

“Death is a very dull, dreary affair, and my advice to you is to have nothing whatsoever to do with it.” W. Somerset Maugham


 Richard watched through the window his grandmother sitting in the garden in her favorite chair. He was perched on his toes, chin barely touching the windowsill, when he noticed her hands, and that put him into a panic. He ran crying to his mother, “Mama! Mama! What's wrong with grandma?”

His mother said with concern in her voice “What do you mean son. Tell me what's wrong?”

As she started heading toward the door he replied, “Her hands are all wrinkly!”

She stopped and laughed as she turned and hugged him, she said, “No honey, everything is alright, Grandma is just getting old like we all do. Someday she will pass on like grandpa did.”

He got quiet as a quizzical look appeared on his face “Even you mom?”

She said “Yes, even me, my child.”

He got mad and with a determined look said “No, I will not let that happen.”

Richard woke alarmed from his dozing and looked across the room. Sarah was sleeping peacefully; her long white hair outlined her face. Her time was almost up. He sat quietly and waited, for there was nothing else to do… but wait. She was dying and nothing he could do would change that fact. Her future could have been different if she had allowed the treatment. She would have none of it.