Patricia and Joe by Saskia Schiffer (good book club books .txt) 📕

favor she was doing him.

For two weeks she didn't hear from Joe. 'Taken in by a poser, as always! Oh so many words - nothing but hot air!', Patricia thought with disappointment. 'So what! This one won't ruin my mood, not him!'
When she didn't even count on him calling anymore, her smartphone rang. With a swift glance at the number Patricia knew that had to be Joe, because she didn't recognize the number. She would give him another chance, then.
"Joe? Is this you?"
"Hello! No, this is his mother speaking, are you Patricia?"
"Yes, that's me. Did something happen to Joe?", she was worried. His mother calling couldn't mean anything good.
"Joe... Joe asked me, if I could apologize for him with you. He would have loved to take a walk in the park with you again. But shortly after your encounter at the park he diminished very suddenly. I had to take him to the hospital. Laying there, his only thought was to meet you again.", her voice was trembling and Patricia knew she was struggling against tears.
"I don't understand, what happened to Joe?" All of a sudden, her concern made her impatient.
"Joe was terminally ill with leukemia. Right before meeting you, he had been discharged from the hospital, to spend some few, last days with his loved ones. I couldn't keep him from going to the park that day, he seemed so full of energy and was adamant to enjoy the beautiful weather. So I let him go." She paused and gasped for air. When she spoke again, her voice was tear-choked.
"Joe died two days ago. But until his last breath he cherished this wonderful day at the park, by your side."
Patricia was devastated. She had thought he'd simply forgotten her and therefore didn't call.
She was ashamed of her inept accusations. Now everything made sense that had left her puzzled about him that day: his frail body, his worrisome fitness and the evasion of private topics.
The elderly, happy couple... She wronged him in so many ways!
Her shame was too much for her, the tears began running without restraint.
"Patricia, my son asked me to give you a message and thus trusted me with your phone number. He didn't want to call you himself because of the state he was in.
His message reads:

Hello dearest Patricia!
I thank you with all my heart that you opened up to me on our encounter at the park! I know not everybody would have done that. But it assured me that there is still hope for you. Don't let this diagnosis get to you, but instead, be more open-minded taking on the challenges of this life. Embrace even the smallest wonders coming your way, fill up your heart with the fascination about every little detail that comes into your focus. Dare to live up to your potential, don't be afraid! Especially what concerns relationships. Those invaluable moments that you share with another person can't be taken away by anyone or anything. Live every day knowing about the incredible gifts that could await you if you're just mindful enough. Don't be said about what happened to me. It had to be like this and for myself, I made the best of it. I'm so glad I found you! You made those last moments of my life unforgettable! And now I only have one request left:

Live, Patricia! Live for us both!" Imprint

Publication Date: 09-26-2015

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