When I saw that stillness, I paused, held my breath, and leaned close to check for breathing. Then, a sense of relief washed all over me. I quietly let out a heavy sigh as I carefully distanced myself from the slumbering body, not wanting to rouse it. My breathing eased, but only by a fraction.
And then, I closed my eyes for a moment, desperately attempting to purge that dreadful thought.
No matter how unwilling I am to accept that inevitability, that day will come, with or without a sign. It dawned upon me that there may be no way to prepare oneself for such a thing.
