Victor and Udilla were happily married for 64 years. There was not a day Victor did not make Udilla laugh. A life well lived, until Udilla lost the love of her life, her partner, her best friend. The house never felt the same, life never felt the same. Time was now counted in minutes, not measured by special moments. Her best companion became the host of her favorite TV show. She spoke with her loved ones mostly via a screen. She lived for Christmas, for the time when we would all be together, in one place, again. She had it all, or at least we thought she did: a housekeeper, a nurse, a comfortable home, meals delivered to her front door, regular video calls from the family. She was rarely alone, yet, she was very lonely…

Udilla did not want to go to a retirement place, “those are for old people” she used to say. But destiny decided otherwise, her family wanted to make sure that she had the ongoing care & support she needed. It was a wonderful place, neat and tidy, the staff was patient and hard-working, there was a weekly calendar for group activities, the food was healthy. Despite it all, Udilla often stayed by herself and waited… She waited close to her bedroom’s window for that special visit from her son or daughter; she waited next to the elevator if a former neighbor came and both remembered “the past” with nostalgia; she waited next to the telephone in case one of her grandkids living abroad called. She was surrendered by a whole world, but only few would make her world.