Breath

I was there when my son took his first breath.

I held my granddaughter in my hands as she took her first breath.

Those are precious, memorable moments I will never forget.

I was there when my friend took her last breath.

In fact, I was the one who gave her the final drops of morphine that helped along the way.

I did not realize it at the time. I was only following Hospice directions by counting her breaths to know when to administer the drops.

Someone's last breath isn't quite as easy to pinpoint as a first one.

My friend took a few shallower breaths and then I waited, but when there were no more I knew I had seen the last.

It is a powerful thing to know the person in front of you has just left this life, At first it feels unreal. I waited for that next breath then I studied her. She really didn't look different at all, but I knew she was gone.

I will never forget those moments sitting next to my friend as she passed through the veil. It was much less chaotic than those babies' first breaths and yet the mystery and the wonder of it will never leave me.