A Short Story by TJO

Hi, my name is John, and I’d like to introduce you to my friend Fred. Where should I start? Well, I guess I should introduce myself first. You see I have ALS, I’m pretty sure I’m also at the end of my journey. I am unable to move, breath or eat, anymore. I’ve been trached for three years, and now I’m unresponsive to any external stimulus. At least that’s what the nurses tell my family. I can still hear them, but I’m acutely aware that my body is just not able to respond. My eyes are open, I don’t blink anymore, so they put drops in my eyes now. But I see everything, when my eyes aren’t blurry. My family visits often, there aren’t any tears anymore; pretty sure they have cried them all out.

So, yeah, I’m certain that my ALS journey is at its end. I’m okay with that, I’m rather I’m rather tired.

But back to my friend Fred. He showed up a few days ago and has been at my side none stop, since arriving. I first noticed him just hanging around in the background, staying out of the way of my family and friends. I had a hard time keeping up with him, one moment he’d be by the window, the next instance he’s at the foot of my bed. Fred is fast, I’ve come to realize, very fast. But so far he hasn’t left my room.

In my mind I have lengthy conversations with Fred, of course they are one sided. I’m aware, I’m dying, not crazy, lol. This is the curse of ALS, a broken body, with an in tact mind, where was I?

Oh yeah, Fred never says a word, but I hear him, even when I sleep, I hear him. Time just passes, yet Fred is hanging around, moving from one side of the room to another. He is my constant companion. I’ve come to appreciate Fed’s company, it’s often the only company I have all day. I don’t count the staff, it’s their job to be around me.

Today Fred is a bit more active than usual, I wonder why? He is buzzing around the room incessantly, never staying in one place for long. I wonder to myself, what are you so worked up about. So I asked him, in my mind that is. As if on cue, Fred makes a bee line to me, as if he heard me.

Suddenly, I realized that Fred is going to land on my nose, and he does. At this point I am cross eyed, due to focusing to see Fred clearly. In this brief moment, I look into Fed’s eyes, all of them. I also catch that iridescent, rainbow sheen from his wings.

This is when I realized that I would not be visited by an angel as I pass, only Fred. As I take my last breath, I am thankful for Fed’s company. Thanks my friend Fred…

TJO