I Married My Childhood Sweetheart in His Hospital Room After Doctors Said He Had Only Months to Live – Right After We Said ‘I Do,’ a Nurse Whispered, ‘He Lies to You… Look Under His Mattress’

My heart lurched.

My time was up.

There were more papers underneath.

I slid everything back exactly where I found it and smoothed the sheet.

The toilet flushed.

 

I grabbed the water pitcher off Ben’s tray and pretended to pour.

Ben shuffled out, IV pole clicking beside him.

“Are you sure you’re okay, baby?” he asked. “You look a little green.”

“I’m fine,” I said. “I told you, I’m just tired.”

“Come here.”

I slid everything back exactly where I found it

He patted the edge of the bed.

I sat, and he took my hand in his.

It took everything in me not to yank it back.

I looked at the man I had loved for twenty years.

And realized I did not know him at all.

It took everything in me not to yank it back.

Ben urged me to go home and rest again, and I went.