End-of-Life Dreams

«Lisa is much better», the doctor said. «Her vital signs are strong, and she is not experiencing any nausea. This is the good news. The bad news,» he continued, «is that your wife called the nurses in the middle of the night to say that she saw her parents on a boat outside the window beckoning her to come. I know this may not make sense,» he went on, «but when patients report a vision like this, they almost always die within a day or two. I’m so sorry.» My wife died a little more than twenty-four hours later.