John hired a car, when his wife was discharged from the hospital, he and the neighbor carried her into the house. ‘Everything will be fine,’ he comforted his wife, ‘just live. Even if you sit and talk to me. Just live. And I will manage everything. Just don’t leave me, my darling…!’

Emily, in her mid-thirties, figured she’d missed out on the whole business of womanly happiness, but life had a quirky way of changing its mind. They found each other when both were pushing forty. William had already been a widower for three years. Emily had never tied the knot, though she had a son of her own. As people liked to say, she had him just for herself.

Back in her younger days, she’d had a romance with a good-looking, dark-haired fellow named Andrew, who swore he’d marry her and swept young Emily off her feet. She believed the promises, which turned out to be nothing but hot air. It later came out that the charmer from the city was already married.

Andrew’s proper wife even showed up at Emily’s door, pleading with the girl not to wreck another family. Young and unsure of herself, Emily backed off. But she chose to keep the baby.

And that’s how it went. Emily had James, and he became her one real source of comfort. James turned out well-mannered and did fine at school. After finishing, he headed off to study economics at university.

William dropped by Emily’s place several times. He suggested they move in together. She kept hesitating, even though she liked him. Emily felt a bit sheepish about her son and about letting herself feel happy at last.

One evening James sat down with his mum for a proper talk. He told her he was fine with it. “Mum, I’ll be off living my own life soon anyway. William seems like a steady sort. Just make sure he treats you right. All I want is for you to be happy.” William’s own son felt the same way.

So they got on with it. They married with a small do. Emily worked at the village library, while William looked after the farm. They did everything side by side. Ran the household, kept a few animals, worked the vegetable patch. They loved and respected each other, though it was a pity they never had children together.

Both sons married and the couple got to meet their grandchildren. Every holiday they put together little bundles for the kids and grandkids: fresh eggs, milk, cream, some pork and chicken. On those days their house filled up with visitors. William and Emily would sit at the table, quietly pleased. They were glad to have people to share the day with.

Only at night, when the older pair lay down, each would think quietly to themselves that it might be better to go first and not have to feel alone.

Time did what it does. One morning trouble arrived without warning. Emily felt poorly just as she started the soup on the stove. The older woman went down. William called the ambulance with the neighbours’ help. The doctors said she’d had a stroke. Everything else worked, except she couldn’t walk anymore.

James and his wife came to see her. He left some cash for the medicines and headed back.

William hired a car. When Emily came out of hospital, he and a neighbour carried her inside.

“It’ll be all right,” he told his wife. “You just stay with us. Even if it’s just sitting and chatting with me. You just keep going. I’ll manage the rest. Only don’t leave me, love.”

William looked after her properly. After a month she was in a wheelchair. She still helped in the kitchen. They carried on doing things together. Peeling potatoes and carrots, sorting through beans. They even baked bread sometimes. In the evenings Emily and William talked over how they’d get through the winter ahead. William no longer had the strength to split logs.

“Maybe the children could have us for the cold months,” they wondered. “Then in spring and summer we could manage on our own.”

That weekend James and his wife arrived. The daughter-in-law Emma took a look round the room and said, “We’ll have to split you two up, dears. We’ll come for Mum next week. I’ll get the spare room ready.”

William shifted awkwardly. “And what about me? We’ve never been apart. How can you do that, kids?”

“Well, that was when you could still handle the place and look after yourselves,” Emma replied. “It’s different now. Let your son take you as well. Nobody’s going to take the pair of you together.”

James and his wife drove off. Emily and William sighed heavily and wondered what came next. Each fell asleep hoping not to wake up and face it.

The following weekend both sons turned up. They started packing. William sat by Emily’s bed, looking at her and remembering their earlier years. Tears came. He leaned close to his wife and whispered, “Forgive me, Emily, for how it’s all turned out. Maybe we didn’t do right by the children. Now they’re dividing us up like stray kittens. I’m sorry. I love you.”

Emily wanted to reach out and touch his cheek, but her hand wouldn’t move. William left, dabbing at his eyes with his sleeve. Once in the car he stopped bothering to wipe them.

Then James, his wife and the neighbour wrapped Emily in a blanket and carried her out feet first. The sick woman thought it felt rather telling. She didn’t struggle. Her heart gave out the moment William left. All she had wanted was not to last until evening.

A week later, on a clear autumn day with the leaves turning, their quiet wish came true. Emily and William found each other in the next world.Emily, in her mid-thirties, figured she’d missed out on the whole business of womanly happiness, but life had a quirky way of changing its mind. They found each other when both were pushing forty. William had already been a widower for three years. Emily had never tied the knot, though she had a son of her own. As people liked to say, she had him just for herself.

Back in her younger days, she’d had a romance with a good-looking, dark-haired fellow named Andrew, who swore he’d marry her and swept young Emily off her feet. She believed the promises, which turned out to be nothing but hot air. It later came out that the charmer from the city was already married.

Andrew’s proper wife even showed up at Emily’s door, pleading with the girl not to wreck another family. Young and unsure of herself, Emily backed off. But she chose to keep the baby.

And that’s how it went. Emily had James, and he became her one real source of comfort. James turned out well-mannered and did fine at school. After finishing, he headed off to study economics at university.

William dropped by Emily’s place several times. He suggested they move in together. She kept hesitating, even though she liked him. Emily felt a bit sheepish about her son and about letting herself feel happy at last.

One evening James sat down with his mum for a proper talk. He told her he was fine with it. “Mum, I’ll be off living my own life soon anyway. William seems like a steady sort. Just make sure he treats you right. All I want is for you to be happy.” William’s own son felt the same way.

So they got on with it. They married with a small do. Emily worked at the village library, while William looked after the farm. They did everything side by side. Ran the household, kept a few animals, worked the vegetable patch. They loved and respected each other, though it was a pity they never had children together.

Both sons married and the couple got to meet their grandchildren. Every holiday they put together little bundles for the kids and grandkids: fresh eggs, milk, cream, some pork and chicken. On those days their house filled up with visitors. William and Emily would sit at the table, quietly pleased. They were glad to have people to share the day with.

Only at night, when the older pair lay down, each would think quietly to themselves that it might be better to go first and not have to feel alone.

Time did what it does. One morning trouble arrived without warning. Emily felt poorly just as she started the soup on the stove. The older woman went down. William called the ambulance with the neighbours’ help. The doctors said she’d had a stroke. Everything else worked, except she couldn’t walk anymore.

James and his wife came to see her. He left some cash for the medicines and headed back.

William hired a car. When Emily came out of hospital, he and a neighbour carried her inside.

“It’ll be all right,” he told his wife. “You just stay with us. Even if it’s just sitting and chatting with me. You just keep going. I’ll manage the rest. Only don’t leave me, love.”

William looked after her properly. After a month she was in a wheelchair. She still helped in the kitchen. They carried on doing things together. Peeling potatoes and carrots, sorting through beans. They even baked bread sometimes. In the evenings Emily and William talked over how they’d get through the winter ahead. William no longer had the strength to split logs.

“Maybe the children could have us for the cold months,” they wondered. “Then in spring and summer we could manage on our own.”

That weekend James and his wife arrived. The daughter-in-law Emma took a look round the room and said, “We’ll have to split you two up, dears. We’ll come for Mum next week. I’ll get the spare room ready.”

William shifted awkwardly. “And what about me? We’ve never been apart. How can you do that, kids?”

“Well, that was when you could still handle the place and look after yourselves,” Emma replied. “It’s different now. Let your son take you as well. Nobody’s going to take the pair of you together.”

James and his wife drove off. Emily and William sighed heavily and wondered what came next. Each fell asleep hoping not to wake up and face it.

The following weekend both sons turned up. They started packing. William sat by Emily’s bed, looking at her and remembering their earlier years. Tears came. He leaned close to his wife and whispered, “Forgive me, Emily, for how it’s all turned out. Maybe we didn’t do right by the children. Now they’re dividing us up like stray kittens. I’m sorry. I love you.”

Emily wanted to reach out and touch his cheek, but her hand wouldn’t move. William left, dabbing at his eyes with his sleeve. Once in the car he stopped bothering to wipe them.

Then James, his wife and the neighbour wrapped Emily in a blanket and carried her out feet first. The sick woman thought it felt rather telling. She didn’t struggle. Her heart gave out the moment William left. All she had wanted was not to last until evening.

A week later, on a clear autumn day with the leaves turning, their quiet wish came true. Emily and William found each other in the next world.