It was Monday and there was near panic in the woman’s eyes as she approached her husband.
“Saturday is the day,” she said. “I can’t do this alone.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “I have to, but I don’t want to. You know how difficult this is for me.”
“I know,” her husband said as he put his arms around her then gently wiped away the tear and kissed her cheek. “It’ll be ok; you know you can do this. I’ll be right beside you. I have to do it too”.
“I can,” she said, “We can, there is no other way. It is for the good all humanity”.
The anticipation in the house was not one of excitement but rather a feeling of dread. The woman wanted it to just be over, but time marches at its own pace and does not consider the events at hand. If there was another option, the woman would have taken it but… there wasn’t. She knew in her heart that everyone must walk through their own valley of death at some point. “Humanity,” she whispered, “the good of humanity”.
She was human too and it would benefit her as much as anyone, probably more. She lived and worked among so many; she had to keep them all from harm. Was she a super hero? No. She was ordinary, with ordinary fears, and an ordinary life. This duty, this charge was placed upon this ordinary woman, and she was afraid as she was every year at this time when she had to face the same crisis for the sake of herself and all those around her. She always made the same choice; it was the better choice, but not easy in the least for her.
Saturday came and the woman and her husband woke up, got dressed, ate breakfast, and got in their van to face the noble deed. It was not difficult for the man at all but for the woman it was a tremendous strain. She’d had this fear within her since she was a child and it grew like The Blob from the old horror movie. Still, she had no doubt that she was doing the right thing. “Humanity,” she said to herself, “My children are human. I do this for them and my grandchild”.
She drove, her husband sat beside her. All was silent in the vehicle until her husband turned on the radio. The woman didn’t care, she just wanted it to be over.
After 20 minutes of travel they arrived at their destination. They opened their doors, got out of the van, shut and locked them. It only took two steps for them to tightly grab hands, supporting one another as they entered the building.
They walked to the back. With each step anxiety built up. This event would take place in a small secret place but they would be together. They both answered personal questions to a woman they did not know, then showed proof and papers that they were supposed to be there. Each was told to sit in a chair. A cart was rolled in and then it happened…
They got their flu shots.
And when it was all over they bought apple turnovers because the woman faced her fear and puff pastries made her feel better.