His name was Klaus, and he came to the bar where I worked almost every day. I was saving up for university at the time, and we got to know each other.
Klaus was in his late sixties and had lost his wife many years ago. He told me that after she passed, he left their bedroom exactly the way it was and couldn’t bring himself to sleep in their bed. Instead, he slept on the couch in the living room. Klaus was very lonely and didn’t have any kids.
Even though I was 45 years younger than him, we became good friends. I would drive him to his doctor’s appointments and listen when he wanted to talk about his wife. He loved her so much.
One day, Klaus told me he had cancer. He refused any treatment. Over the next few months, his health got worse, and he eventually had to go to the hospital. Still, he seemed to be doing okay for someone who was terminally ill.
My family and I went on vacation, but while we were away, my boss called to say Klaus had been moved to hospice care. We drove back home, and I went to visit him twice. I brought his favorite beer, and we talked about his wife. He told me he was ready to see her again soon.
That night, Klaus passed away in his sleep. Not many people came to his funeral, and his urn was buried anonymously.
It’s been three years since he died, and I still miss him. Klaus is one of the reasons I believe in true love.
~Jayne Ga – Quora