Who is that masked woman?

I stood at the end of my mother’s hospital bed oozing germs from every pore, despite the mask over my nose and mouth. Mother motioned me to come closer but I dared not for fear of further compromising her fragile immune system. We were both suspended in pain like some grotesque Mexican day-of-the-dead sculpture.

This was the image that came to me at 2:30 a.m. as I attempted to sleep sitting up on the living room sofa. I was too congested to lay down flat, and I was trying to spare my father from the possible contamination and noise from my chorus of sneezing, wheezing, and nose blowing.

Miraculously, I woke up (if I was asleep at all) feeling better. No longer sneezing uncontrollably, I feel almost human, though certainly not well enough to do Mom any good today. I will once again don the mask for a quick peek at her and a brief conference with the medical staff, then leave. Sis will be there to offer more support sans germs.

Sue