Every morning, the hospital room echoes with a hoarse, persistent call: “Ah… Ah…” The voice belongs to a 93-year-old man, bedridden after a stroke and now suffering from dementia. Over the years, he has been in and out of the hospital so frequently that it has become his home.
Beside him each day is his wife, well into her 80s, faithfully arriving at 9 a.m. and leaving at 3 p.m. Her schedule is unchanging, timed to coincide with the doctor’s rounds, during which she listens intently to each word. Over time, the hospital staff has come to know the couple’s story.
A lifetime of love and patience
He spent his career as a technical worker handling engineering plans, while she taught at a middle school. Their retirement was steady and peaceful until he suffered a stroke at 86, gradually losing mobility and mental clarity. She now cares for him as his health declines, fulfilling a vow they made more than 60 years ago on their wedding day.
Their two children, both living overseas, initially returned to help, but soon resumed their own lives. She remarks: “As long as I’m alive, I’ll be here for him as long as possible.” His face lights up with anticipation at her arrival each morning, his gaze following her closely. Her presence, it seems, brings light and color back to his world.
Moments of humor and tenderness
Before he lost his ability to speak, he would often complain to her like a child: “It hurts! They’re hurting me.” She would smile and gently reassure him, saying: “It doesn’t hurt; they’re just helping you.” He’d chuckle, comforted by her familiar touch.
Now that he’s unable to swallow, his meals are given through a feeding tube. She light-heartedly teases him about the convenience, saying: “You even get to skip drinking milk.” He responds with a faint sound and a soft smile.
A quiet dedication through the years
After lunch, she sits beside him, gently patting his back until he falls asleep. Though wrinkled and covered with age spots, her hands radiate warmth and care. Sunlight streams through the window, casting a golden glow over the two of them, painting a serene portrait of enduring love.
Her attire has become familiar to the younger nurses — a white cap covering her gray hair, a dark top, a long pleated skirt, and black shoes with a slight heel. Though they find her outfit amusing, she wears it faithfully, explaining that her daughter wanted to throw out the shoes, but she kept them because “a little heel looks nice with a skirt.”
One nurse jokes that her husband calls out again when she leaves for the day. She laughs, responding: “He’s calling for me! We promised each other long ago — whoever went first would stay dignified for the other.”
Memories of young love
She recalls how, as young adults, he used to wait outside her school with gifts of corn from his workplace garden, knowing it was her favorite. She smiles, adding: “When I was 60, he even collected corn silk to brew tea for my blood pressure. Now, I come dressed up each day because he remembers me as I was.”
As her visits continue, day after day, the two persist, whether in clear or muddled moments.
A final goodbye
One afternoon, as she held his hand and stroked his forehead, he gave a faint “Ah” and peacefully passed away. She smiled through tears, holding onto his memory. When a nurse prepared him for his final care, she casually asked how long he had stayed in that room. His wife answered without hesitation: “Seven years, four months, and twelve days.”
Translated by cecilia
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