The Dove Necklace 1
The I.C.U of Denver General Hospital is the most frightening place on earth, especially if your own loved one lies in it’s core; that cold, huge, single room with a dozen beds, all monitors, sterile smells and agonizing ‘beeps’. I walked the corridor passing those fear-inspiring double doors to that room at the end every day for weeks.2
But this story is not my own, I lay that heavy tale down so that I might share a small fragment of a story that belongs to another who also knew the deep dread of pacing that hallway day after day.3
I had been suffocating in my own agony and, at first, I did not notice her. She must have been there for some time before I finally realized that she was there. First it was her small and gentle hand that I felt on my slumping shoulder. Then her taut, lined face with eyes that burned right through my pain and into my heart. I recall only the kind murmur of comforting words that she offered. Though I cannot remember specific syllables or lines I just know that it soothed me like the peaceful humming of an angel in my ear. 4
Who was she? I didn't know. All I knew was that she stood by me, unmovable, even when my crying turned into loud, primal, throaty moans of grief and my own family became overwhelmed with discomfort and stepped back. 5
Who was she? Finally I was able to break away from my own suffering and I saw who she was.6
Sitting by my loved one’s bed I looked up and there she was. In the bed that she sat beside was a young boy. He appeared alert and I wondered why he was in the I.C.U. He whispered to the woman, who I came to think of as ‘my angel’, and seemed in good spirits. Still, I knew he must be very ill to be here in this place and I felt ashamed that I had not even noticed or asked about why she was there, in that terrible place.7
After a few moments I saw that she held up a card for the young man to see. He looked at it for some time and said a few words. It was then that I realized that he could not move. He was paralyzed from the chest down. Finally my heart opened up and I could see ‘my angel’ faced more suffering and pain than I could imagine. 8
From that day forward I watched from a distance as they worked on this boy and I saw all the pain that he endured. ‘My angel’, his mother, held a constant vigil, always there, always loving, always positive and, still, always offering her hand to me.9
I came to know her story. How her son and a friend had been playing with a gun, how the gun discharged, and how her son now faced a very different life ahead than she had, as a loving mother, planned for him. 10
The weeks passed and my own situation reached its anguished end. I left the I.C.U and though my grief was deep and weighed a million tons somehow now I could see past it and into this strong woman’s suffering. As we parted she gave me a necklace with delicate, white doves all strung together with tiny beads in between. Those doves now hang beside my brass crucifix as a symbol of the true meaning of Empathy, for this is the lesson that I was taught so many years ago by an angel. 11
Whatever became of this lady and her son I do not know. I regret not having exchanged numbers or asking her name. But the comfort that she held out to me so freely, even as her own sorrow and worry was immense, this I will never forget. 12
By M. A.King13
200414
Author notes
Inspired by a true experience.
choice 3.
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Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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It is when life is at its hardest we swing one way or the other. New Orleans was a perfect example.
Excellent story.
John -
This story was beautiful! I loved the beginning, many people know the exact scene you have described with this horrid part of an already sad hospital. It brought back memories of when my sister was burned badly in a campfire several years back, and also visiting my grandmother when she got sick for the first time, that was actually in Denver where this story takes place. The imagery is good and the emotion is wonderful. I loved the message, empathy is such an important, meaningful thing to have in life. God bless and keep writing
~Stefani~ -
a stunning story indeed
sad, I love it.
The setting is great, and I absolutely love the word choice. I have been having a bad day, and this makes me even more sad, but it's for the better. I love it when a poet/writer's words do this to my emotions, you have painted the most beautiful scene yet ever-so-depressing. The final moment is left in the reader's eyes, as the writer's eyes close, mine are left wide open. I love it.
excellent job,
-->aref -
This is very touching. Sometimes we just don't know who that angel truly is, and we don't even know until much later that they are an angel. Wonderful story.
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I hate to be a copycat but WOW!! This was such a stunning story. This is truly quite inspirational. I am so glad I clicked on this. This has really touched me. Thank you for sharing this event from your life.
You did a fabulous job here! Good luck in the contest! 
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Profound
Wow, Mary, when you step into prose it is every bit as lovely and faithful as your poetry. This is certainly the right medium for this story. You pass over your own story so lightly, as a matter of fact, and describe this small, beautiful and compassionate woman in great detail. We don't know how we affect other people, perhaps you comforted her by allowing her to help.
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Beautiful and heart felt
My dear friend this is so beautiful and I am so glad you shared a very private moment of your life, bless you and your family as well as that angel. This one is a winner already in my heart. -
Mary, my friend, that was beautiful. This will stay with me. I will im you when i digest it all. Thank you for this piece.
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My God what a powerful piece.Wow.
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