He takes my hand, looks tenderly at me. “Myra. I’m so sorry. This is too much to ask you.”

“No. I want to be here.”

“I’m sorry anyway.”

“It’s all right.”

He takes another handful of yellow pills, and he has finished them.

“I’ll take the red ones in just a few minutes. Remind me.”

“I will.”

“God. I’m sleepy already. Can that be?”

“Are you … do you want to lie down?”

“After. When I’m all done.” He looks out the window. “Look. Look what a beautiful morning it is.”

I look out at the sky, cloudless, a pale blue. In my little garden, bees will be crawling into the blossoms on the foxglove. The lilies will open a bit more. In the pond in the woods across the street, minnows will swim like dark clouds from one side to the other.

“Myra? You know, I think … I should do the rest alone. I think maybe you should go downstairs, now.”

“No.”

“It’s all right. I’m fine. I’m not scared anymore. I can do it, and then you don’t need to be here. Just call my folks when it’s done. You go now.” He gathers up the five red pills, swallows them. “I’m fine. I’m nearly asleep. Really. “He lies down, crosses his hands over his belly, closes his eyes.

I lie beside him, turn his face gently toward me, and he opens his eyes. “I’m here,” I tell him. “And I will not leave you.”

“Oh, Myra. I wish …”

“I know.”

“Tell me what you’ll do tomorrow.” His speech has slowed; it’s slurred now. I tighten my grip on his hand.

“Okay. Here’s what I’ll do. I’ll go over to Hansen’s farm. I’ll get some eggs from the chicken’s nests, the eggs are always warm, and there’s a beautiful black-and-white rooster there, he’s so proud, got these fierce little yellow eyes. I’ll buy some corn and some basil and some green beans. I’ll feel the skin of the apricots, they feel just like babies, and I’ll pick out a few to bring home and put in a green bowl on the kitchen table. I’ll look at the plums and the peaches and all the baskets of red cherries, and I’ll get some of those too. And when I come home, I’ll sit out in the backyard and I’ll feel you all around me, you won’t be gone, Chip. You will never be gone from me.”