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Julianne Troyer Piper was not a particularly quiet woman. She hadn’t been this quiet since the first time she went to a Frank Sinatra concert in the early 70s. She never liked singing along to music, how are you going to enjoy it if you are making too much noise to hear it? She would never understand. Just like she would never understand modern art, or quantum physics, or why some people drink black coffee. Or cancer. She definitely didn’t understand cancer. She never smoked. Rarely laid out in the sun. She hated heat. And yet, here she was.

“So here we are” she said in her usual pompous, Mid-Atlantic accent, she sounded dignified. If there was one thing cancer wouldn’t take it was her pride.

“So here we are” Oscar reiterated on the chair beside Julianne’s hospital bed.

“Mrs. Piper, I am sorry, there’s not enough chemotherapy in the world to stop the continuing process of your cancer.” Doctor Soto wished that he could say more, but he had given this speech time and time again. And most of those he has given it too, have sadly departed.

“How long” Julianne’s voice was calm but if you were the right kind of observer, you could hear the tiredness behind those words.

“I estimate a month. If even that. I advise you to not strain yourself as it will only aggravate the cancer. Use a wheelchair and a walker as it will-”

“Dr. Soto” Julianne interrupted, “I thank you for the worry but I will not be needing neither walker or wheelchair.”

“Honey, I think the doctor is right” Oscar wanted to listen to whatever Doctor Soto suggested, whatever could help Julianne to not suffer anymore. “You’re body is shutting down. You need to let yours-”

“Ozzy I have made myself clear” Julianne was poignant, “I have never needed help a day in my life and I will not start using it now. Now my legs are perfectly fine with walking, if I tire, I will rest. But I have told you I am not using a wheelchair and I will not say it again.” Julianne had the type of stern firmness that made everyone in the room listen. And neither Oscar or Dr. Soto argued against her will.



“Okay, Mrs. Piper.” Doctor Soto stated as he stood up, “I just really want you to be slow on your feet. I’m sure Mr. Piper will take good care of you and see that you stay out of trouble.” Doctor Soto waved his finger at Julianne when he said ’out of trouble’ knowing too well, Julianne’s pride and stubbornness.

“Thank you for everything, Doctor Soto” Oscar shook Doctor Soto’s hand as he exited the door.

“Could you believe he had the audacity to reduce me to a cripple?” Julianne said in defiance after Doctor Soto left the room, “why I can’t imagine having to get around everywhere in a wheelchair.”

“He’s just doing his job, Julianne” Oscar smiled

“I mean, I have cancer, I’m not paralyzed from the waste down” Julianne continued, “I didn’t get my leg eaten by a shark. The audacity” she reiterated.

But Oscar wasn’t listening to Julianne’s nagging, and neither was Julianne. She was just talking to fill in space. She didn’t know how else to cope.

But soon enough, both Julianne and Oscar became quiet. And sat in silence for a while.





Oscar finally got up and sat beside Julianne on the hospital bed.

“So here we are” Julianne stated again

“Here we are.”

“Until death do us part, right?” Julianne smiled as they both looked out the window



“Don’t say that Julie, you can still fight.” Oscar reassured

“How are we going to tell Serena? She will be so devastated” Julianne continued

“We can tell her together.” Oscar wrapped his hand with Julianne’s

“Oh, we will have to wait until after the wedding. I refuse to spoil her beautiful day. Oh Oscar.” she scrunched her eyebrows and shook her head, “won’t you wait until after the wedding?”

“Of course” Oscar’s voice was flat and face was stiff as he stared at his wife, for what could be one of the very last times.



Julianne wrapped her arm around Oscar’s arm and rested her head on his shoulder, “you have given me so many good years.” she reassured closing her eyes, “so many good years.”

Tears fell down Oscar’s face and he began to shake emotionally. He could not imagine a world without his wife.

“So many good years... Aren’t you wonderful Oscar?” Julianne’s voice was soothing as she rubbed her head on Oscar’s shoulder with her eyes still closed, “such a wonderful man…. wonderful, wonderful man.”