The Warm Bouquet
There was a slight buzzing sound coming from the small fluorescent nightlight. Other than that, Mary thought her hospital room was very peaceful. Peaceful, but sad because while technically still a hospital room it was in a far removed wing called "The Hospice House". One year ago Mary had been diagnosed with cancer. After radiation treatment and chemotherapy had failed the last time around, the good doctors had politely suggested that she come here so she could be as comfortable as possible. The collective consensus at the time was that, if she was lucky, she had two to four months left to live. That was two and a half months ago.
Although there was nothing about the Hospice House that reminded her of an actual house, it was hospital through and through, she liked it there. They took very good care of her. The nurses doted on her constantly. This felt good even if it was a hired service. Since she was admitted here, everyone had been exceptionally pleasant to her. Joshua, her husband of twenty two years, was bending over backwards to make sure she was comfortable. Even her estranged son had been sending her flowers once a week.
Most of all, there was the congregation from The New Book of Life Church. Hardly a day went by without a visit from one of her church brothers or sisters. Often times two or three of them would stop by during a day's time. Pastor Snead even took time from his busy schedule for a weekly visit. Mary's days were quite full with prayer meetings, town gossip, and receiving flowers and homemade cookies.
She thought it ironic that the end of one's life could give you a taste of just how wonderful things could be. Normal life wasn't like this. It was full of obstacles and complications. As her pastor had told her "Soon you will be in the arms of our Lord and all your worries will be taken care of." She had been eager to hear these very words and had taken them to heart. Yes, she had endured the test of life and soon she would rest easy. Between these thoughts and the opiate based pain medication she was receiving, she was in high spirits, despite living on borrowed time.
It was eleven thirty in the evening and she had been lying awake for a while now. She slept less and less as her time grew near. The nurses had told her that sometimes the medication had that effect on people. With that, they had offered more medication to help her sleep. She had the feeling that it wasn't the medication, but the anticipation. She simply was looking forward to meeting the Lord much the same way as a child looks forward to Christmas morning. She declined the sleeping pills because she saw the wakeful night time hours as a good opportunity to lay in peace and quiet and imagine how glorious Heaven will be.
She was staring at the ceiling and so submersed in her fantasy that she almost didn't hear the knock. She glanced at the door and was startled to see a man peering into the room. "I'm so sorry to have startled you, Mary. I saw that your eyes were open and I thought that if you were having trouble sleeping that you might enjoy some company." the man said at just above a whisper.
She was struck by how silky smooth his voice was. It was beautiful. She didn't recognize him, but she was starting to have trouble recognizing some of her church friends lately. Another side effect of the medication she had been told. It must be someone from the church or someone that works here in the hospital she thought.
"Oh my, it's okay. I wasn't expecting anyone this late is all. Please, come on in."
As the man opened the door the rest of the way he revealed a bouquet of carnations that were a stunning orange and red. With a slight flourish he presented the flowers to Mary as he bent in a neat bow. "For you, my dear." he said as he gazed at her with a sincere smile.
Mary was not only taken aback by the beauty of the flowers but by the way the man before her was dressed. He was wearing a flawless white three piece suit. It wasn't just his suit though; it was his hair, his skin, his voice. Everything about him seemed perfect. Mary thought that he was probably the most charismatic man she had ever seen in her life. She wasn't attracted to him in a man with a woman kind of way. Those thoughts had long since left her alone. She did however feel a draw towards him, like if she could get out of bed she would walk right over and hug him.
