She looked much smaller than she had in Walter’s photograph.
Her breathing was shallow, and her eyes were closed.
Walter approached the bed.
“Cathy, sweetheart. I’m here.”
He took her hand and kissed it.
“I’m sorry it took so long.”
For a while, nothing happened.
Then Cathy opened her eyes.
Walter leaned closer.
“It’s me, honey.”
Her lips moved.
He smiled through his tears.
“I know. I know.”
I turned toward the door to give them privacy, but Walter called me back.
“Robert, please. There’s something I want her to know.”
He looked at Cathy.
“Remember that accident I told you about? The little boy and his sister?”
Her eyes moved toward him.
“The boy grew up,” Walter whispered. “He’s standing right here.”
I stepped closer.
Walter told her how he’d been stranded in the storm and how I’d stopped, without knowing who he was.
Cathy looked at me for several seconds.