Shelby & Noah

By Carl M. Namahoe wc/472

The door to Dr. Emma Thompson’s clinic slowly opens and Shelby strolls in and goes to the room where Noah is. Stepping inside she sees him on a bed with tubes and wires and a breathing apparatus that was supplying air to his lungs.

 Slowly she approaches her love of twenty years taking in all the sights and sounds. She’d never seen Noah in this position before. He had always been the strong one; the one who commanded attention everywhere he went. People knew when Noah entered the room. People just seem to be drawn to him and it was okay with Shelby as she preferred being a wall flower.

There are others in the room but she pays no mind as she stretches out next to him and lays her head on his chest. His breathing is erratic at best and she notices his heart beat has become slower. She closes her eyes and memories of their first encounter run through her mind. 

It was at the B&L Ranch and they had come over to visit. Noah and his brothers were out playing in the field and he caught a glimpse of Shelby as she stepped from the truck. His heart leaped for joy and as it was his custom; he began showing off. This did not impress Shelby as she turned and followed the rest of the family away from his silliness. Noah would not be denied and ran to meet her but his two older brothers got to her first. He lowered his head in a humble position. This caught Shelby's eye and she beckoned him to walk with her. Noah is hooked.

Their relationship blossomed and developed into a life changing one. They were inseparable and decided to make a life together. It wasn't long before they became parents and the children kept Shelby busy. Noah, likewise, was busy working on the ranch moving the cattle. He was strong and committed to his work and family.

A sudden beep and a flashing red light from the monitor startles Shelby and she raises her head for a second then lowers it back onto Noah’s chest. His breathing is very erratic now, more so then before. And his heart beat has become slower and Shelby knows Noah will be gone soon.

She closes her eyes and drifts off into a memory moment of days gone by. Sometime during the night two hearts beat as one. And finally Noah’s heart stopped as the last grain from the hour glass of life dropped.

In the morning Dr. Emma Thompson,  veterinarian, entered the room and found Noah and Shelby on the bed as they had been the day before. They had both pass during the night. Shelby and Noah committed to each other to the very end.

*More often than not we tend to write love stories or relationship between individuals. I've often experienced the affection from dogs. So I decided to write this story using them as my main characters.