Her daughter-in-law, without consulting anyone, called for an ambulance. He had barely been saved in the hospital. Well, yes, yes. But how would anyone have known?

But see how the amaryllii are blooming! Like never before.

It must be some kind of a sign, thinks Ella, while washing the beets. It is clear that Francis won’t last beyond the spring.

When the house was divided, they got the front half. Their son moved into the as yet unfinished section. Their son’s youngest daughter’s room had remained in Ella and Francis’ part of the house. She was graduating from primary school that summer. But what can be done if it turned out that way? Ella made her granddaughter move out. In farewell she gave her ten ruble coins. A lot of money for such a child.

If only the trees would leaf sooner. Tired, she is so very tired, climbing up and down those spiral stairs. And how will it be, when all of them arrive here? They too fight among themselves – the sisters with the brother. God knows what the cause of that is.

But see, the flowers don’t argue with her and certainly not among themselves. Hardened off for the whole summer, they just bloom and bloom. Upright and lean. Like Ella’s life. If only everything surrounding it hadn’t got in such a muddle. When Francis passes away, she will untangle all of it as fairly as she can. She has enough strength left for that.

The trees are in leaf already, when one evening Ella notices a large lump on Francis’ stomach. Francis now is asleep more than awake, but she is frightened. She calls the doctor. The doctor says that Francis has a hernia, and must go to the hospital for an operation. The ambulance comes and takes Francis away.

The house seems to Ella so empty, so silent and eerie. She drags the collapsible bed into the kitchen and spends the whole night wide awake. The amaryllii have already finished blooming, but they still have not been taken outside. How much could she have done in the garden, with Francis exhausting her so. But now the end is near. Dear God, why could You not let him go peacefully, without the added burden of a hernia? But now they will all come here. They will decide about the funeral. This funeral will unite them all. She will see her granddaughters and great granddaughter. Then she’ll have an idea, to whom she should leave the house. She will know.

The next morning, climbing up to clean Francis’ room, Ella falls down the spiral stairs. Such a strange feeling. She lies there, understanding all, but she can’t move, nor call out for help. She wants to yell, but it comes out as:

“Brumbrumbrumbrum.”

She lies like this all day. In the evening her son finds her.