She lay in her hospital bed. Above, harsh fluorescent light accosted her dry and tired eyes . The monotonous beeping of many machines dutifully carrying out their tasks. “Digital ghosts.” She mused.

She wondered if everyone who was about to die could sense it, certainly she felt it looming. She closed her eyes, swallowed thickly. It sounded like crackling wood in her parched throat. The smell of antiseptic and the constant flow of oxygen fed through a nasal cannula stung her nostrils. Nurses were discussing a patient’s chart in the curtained off area next to her, but all of this seemed far distant.

Her thoughts turned inward. Had she led a happy life? Had she been a good person? Suddenly she had an overwhelming need to purge emotions. She was paralyzed by love, fear, pain, joy- it was precious and immense. Beautiful pain. She wished someone were here to keep her company, to hold her hand. But in the end didn’t everyone have to go through this alone? She was tired of being scared.