Lights Out

It was the end of the night shift. May slowly walked toward the nurses’ station. She leaned into each room on her ward to make sure everyone was resting well.  May tiptoed into Gilda’s room.

“No need to sneak in like you’ve come home after curfew,” Gilda chuckled weakly 

 May sat in the chair next to Gilda. 

“I wanted to stop in and check on you before ending my shift,” May said.

Gilda smiled and, in a worn voice, said, “Above and beyond.”

“Not really,” May said.

“I think this is the night,” Gilda said. 

“Do you want me to call the family?” May said.

“No,” Gilda said, “They are exhausted. I don’t want them to risk an accident coming in here.”

“Then I will stay,” May said.

“No,” Gilda said, “I’m so full of surprises. You may be staying the whole night for nothing.”

“It would never be for nothing,” May said.

“No,” Gilda said, “go home to your family.”

“You are like family,” May said.

“And my family is sleeping,” Gilda said.

“I don’t think I’ve won an argument with you, ever,” May said.

They sat in silence for a moment.

“I’m the end of my generation in my family,” Gilda said. “We were all quite a bunch; the prohibition, depression, World War Two. It was my generation that invented the computer and put a man on the moon. We also dropped two horrible bombs and killed millions over nothing. I think we’ve done enough.”

May smiled and patted Gilda’s hand.

“I’d like to sleep now,” Gilda said. 

“I’ll see you when my shift begins tomorrow,” May said. 

“Good night, May,” Gilda said.

May stood. She bent down and kissed Gilda on the forehead. “Is there anything I can do before I leave?”

“No,” Gilda said.

“Do you want me to turn off your light?” May said.

“I’ll turn it off,” Gilda said. “Can you tell my family I love them and I’m happy?”

“Sure, Gilda,” May said. “I’ll do that.”

May walked out of the room. She paused for a moment, walked to the nurses' station, and grabbed her purse. She turned back and looked down the hallway towards Gilda’s room. The light shone from the room and into the hallway. May looked down in her purse to search for her car keys. When she looked down the hallway again, the light was out.