We might believe we know what’s best for our loved ones at times in life. While we want to safeguard them while making judgments, are we acting in everyone’s best interests?
A mother had to make a tough choice in the tale I want to tell you about today. Sadly, she survived on her own without the help of her family. Let’s examine this tragic story and see how love, deceit, and secrets eventually reunited this family.
My name is Kevin, and I have spent the last 15 amazing years in a happy marriage with Levine. Emily is our lovely daughter, and she is everything to us. Up until Levine began to distance himself from us around six months ago, our family appeared so solid and loving.
Her demeanor changed little at first. But as time passed, she grew aloof and avoided us. She smiled less often and stayed up late many nights lost in her own thoughts. She even started weeping in the restroom once.
She dismissed me every time I tried to talk to her about it with a hesitant “I’m fine.” However, I sensed she wasn’t feeling well. Our family began to suffer as a result of this unsaid problem, and our relationships began to fall apart.
Levine was peering out the window into the backyard one evening. I begged her to open up and let me in. But her only comment was that she was out of breath.
For months now, this had been her go-to justification, and it worried me.
A few days later, Emily and I returned home to an oddly silent house. Levine had vanished from sight. Amidst the jumble of schoolbooks and mail on the kitchen table, I found an envelope written in her handwriting and addressed to me. When I read her letter, my heart fell:
“Holder,
I’ve already left if you’re reading this. I was afraid I would never leave, so I couldn’t bring myself to say goodbye in person. My cancer diagnosis is stage 3, and the doctors are not holding out much hope. I don’t want Emily and you to have to suffer through my decline. Please be aware that this choice was made out of an opinion of love.
I’m at a peaceful hospice located two states away at Clear Life Center. Pardon me, please.
Always, with all of my love, Levine.
As I read her words, tears fell down my cheeks. My dear wife had decided, believing it to be in our best interests, to fight her war alone. I was suddenly struck with how much I adored her.
I informed Emily, “Mommy’s not feeling well, so we’re going on a trip to see her,” and I quickly packed my bags. With a worried expression on her face, she questioned if her mother would be alright. I told her that when mommy saw us, she would feel so much better.
Levine requested to be left alone, but we disregarded her requests and drove directly to the hospice center she described in her letter. My heart ached when we discovered her. She was a ghost of the lady I fell in love with—weak and sickly. But when she spotted us, her eyes brightened with a mixture of happiness and sadness.
Holding her mother’s hand while crying, Emily wondered why Levine hadn’t informed us about her condition. With tears running down her cheeks, Levine muttered that she felt this would be a simpler solution for us. However, we were quite clear that we intended to support her through anything.
We honored her desires and cherished our time together during the last few weeks of her life. We took walks, despite Levine’s need for a wheelchair. By imparting her knowledge and affection to Emily, she made sure that Emily would always have her spiritual support.
We treasured every second we had left, sharing laughs and conversations as well as occasional quiet moments spent together. Every night until Levine went to sleep, I held her hand as Emily read aloud from her favorite books.
Levine died quietly, with Emily nestled next to her. Rather than the anguish and suffering she had anticipated, her final days were full with warmth and affection. I now see how much love and fortitude it took for her to make her decision while she was gone.
Now that Levine is gone, Emily and I manage life together with the unwavering support of her love. Like the delicate scent of her favorite flowers, it clings to us, reassuring us that love endures even in her absence.
We will always cherish the memory of Levine’s noble deed and her unwavering love for us. And while we are thankful for the time we had as a family, we will always treasure her memories.