After the phone call ended, Richard slowly placed the phone next to him.
He leaned back against the pillow, breathing heavily.
The coughing had drained all his strength.
“You should try to sleep,” I said quietly.
He nodded but didn’t say anything.
I left the room and closed the door halfway.
For a while the house was silent again.
I tried to keep myself busy with small chores around the house, but my mind kept going back to Richard.
Every now and then I could hear him coughing from inside the room.
Each time it sounded worse than before.
Later that afternoon the kids came back from school.
Praise immediately noticed that something wasn’t right.
“Where’s dad?” she asked.
“He’s resting,” I said.
“He’s not feeling well.”
She nodded but I could see the worry in her face.
The yo
