The Visitor

Her heaving chest was escorted with intermittent breathing that filled the ambience of the long corridor. She was standing before the door and in her hand was a safely concealed brown envelope. She was about to drop the news to him.

Her jittery knuckle rapped the door in short but careful thuds. It wasn't loud but it was enough to wake the occupant of the room. She heard grunting sounds and footfalls towards the door.

She took long breaths in anticipation; she had to tell him. Although she loves him, but can't be with him because the message in the envelope was evident of her assertion.

"Who's there?" the voice from the room coughed out.

"From the post office. You have a package," the reply was well articulated without any trace of falsehood.

He twisted the doorknob to reveal the emptiness before him. He stood gaping at the empty corridor like he was in a trance. He knew what he heard, but he couldn't believe what was before him. On the floor laid the brown envelope which he picked up, tore open and revealed the contents—a hospital result and inscriptions;

Cancer...few days to live.

Nancy.

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