Parker’s heart pounds in his chest, and he finds it difficult to breathe. His wife looks at him across the breakfast table, and she can’t help but frown.
“I’ll call an ambulance,” she says and immediately picks up the phone.
Parker grits his teeth and closes his eyes. Perspiration dampens his face. “My indigestion is temporary,” he says. “The discomfort will go away, like it always does.”
Mandy completes the call.
“Mr. Smith,” a voice shouts from the side of the stretcher. “Can you hear me?” Voices fade away and everything goes dark. Parker takes his final breath while his body floats, higher and higher.
He looks down. His gown is askew, and his chest is exposed. A fist thumps his chest. “Stop,” he screams. “Please leave me alone.” No one appears to listen.
Minutes pass and then hours before he opens his eyes. Mandy brushes his cheek with her lips, and she whispers in his ear, “I love you.”
“I’ll call an ambulance,” she says and immediately picks up the phone.
Parker grits his teeth and closes his eyes. Perspiration dampens his face. “My indigestion is temporary,” he says. “The discomfort will go away, like it always does.”
Mandy completes the call.
“Mr. Smith,” a voice shouts from the side of the stretcher. “Can you hear me?” Voices fade away and everything goes dark. Parker takes his final breath while his body floats, higher and higher.
He looks down. His gown is askew, and his chest is exposed. A fist thumps his chest. “Stop,” he screams. “Please leave me alone.” No one appears to listen.
Minutes pass and then hours before he opens his eyes. Mandy brushes his cheek with her lips, and she whispers in his ear, “I love you.”
