In October of 2018, my wife of 30 years got up early and headed to the airport. She was attending a business conference for the week and was scheduled for a flight home the following Friday morning.
We had been texting while she was away due to the time difference and work schedules. On Friday morning I had sent several texts and had not received a response – not surprising with a long flight home.
When I arrived home from work that evening, her car was not in the garage which was odd since she was due back in the early afternoon. I immediately tried calling her cell and it rang until going to voicemail.
Getting somewhat concerned, I tried calling the hotel where she was staying. When I got the front desk, I asked for her room. The first alarm bell was an almost 5 minute hold. The second was being asked who I was and why was I calling. I stated I was her husband and since she hadn't come home as scheduled I was trying to find out why.
That got me put on hold for another 5 minutes at which time, I was told to hold for the hotel manager. When he came on the line, he said the words that changed my life. "I am very sorry sir, the housekeeping staff found your wife's body this morning. She was found collapsed on the floor and had passed away at some point in the night. The police, EMS and Medical Examiner are up there now. If you need any other details, the investigator will be calling you later this evening. If there is anything we at the hotel can do to help you at this time, please let us know."
It left me with her body 1500 miles away. It was an ordeal getting her home and a few days after she passed, I was hospitalized requiring emergency surgery for a totally unrelated issue. I had to plan and attend her funeral while recovering from surgery.
It took 6 months to get a final cause of death from the ME's office which also created much anguish and delays in closing out her affairs.
Now, two years later I sit in Covid-19 isolation looking at what I have lost. The person I would have shared this strange time with is gone and with her, 30 years of dreams and plans for our life together. Every day I face this, it still feels unreal, impossible.
She wasn't old, she had just seen the doctor a week or so before leaving. It makes no sense. I don't suppose it ever will.
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