“I have something to ask you.”
I stared at her, and she smiled sadly.
The heart monitor kept beeping. It was the only sound between us for what felt like a full minute.
“Gloria…”
“Don’t answer now,” the elderly woman said. “Go home. Sleep on it. But please, don’t say no because you’re worried about what people will think.”
That was the problem. Of course, that’s exactly what I was worried about.
“Don’t answer now.”
***
I didn’t sleep that night. I tossed and turned in bed until sunrise, then drove straight to the nursing home and pulled Sarah into the break room.
“I need to tell you something, and don’t laugh.”
My friend set down her coffee.
“Daniel, you look terrible.”
“Gloria asked me to marry her.”
I didn’t sleep that night.
Sarah didn’t laugh or blink for a second.
Then she rubbed her forehead as if she’d just gotten a headache.
