By Paul Lewthwaite
Sophie floated closer to the ceiling this time. She spun around. A moment’s disorientation before she spied her shriveled body on the bed below. Her ventilator hissed and clicked in the background. Not long now. Soon they’d switch off life support, and then she’d be free.
The next time she ‘woke,’ she was up against the ceiling. Panicking, she struggled to twist about, but failed.
Two female voices drifted upwards. “The family won their court case,” said the first.
The second groaned. “She could go on like this for years, poor soul.”
“Well, at least she won’t know anything about it.”
As a health care professional, I applaud your story. First hand experience has shown me that discussions with your family regarding your DNR status is important. But the topic of death frightens many people.
Thank you for a well written story and timely story.
Excellent story dealing with these issues.
I laughed at the end. Should I have? Obviously the story is terribly sad and extremely well written – and very provocative. But your story makes an important biological and human point: people in dire straights, who may seem out of it, hear what goes on around them. They often are more aware than we think.
Well done!
Awesome story!!!
Nice observation. I’ve heard a lot of family stories like this and it’s cool too see a flash fiction picturing it out, sounds more powerful and has an lingering effect through words.
Wow. Just incredibly powerful.
Great story!
Thanks so much, everyone for your kind and thoughtful comments.
Peter, I think it’s ok to laugh 🙂 as there is a bit of dark humour in there, as well as (at least for me) the horror of ‘living’ up near a ceiling unable to escape until life support is switched off.
Thanks again, everyone.
I think this story is fantastic.
though I agree it has a strong element of horror. Rather than seeing humour or poignancy in it, it actually made me feel shivery when it came to the last few lines; just the thought of Sophie being trapped for all that time with no way out.