Cecile.

Cecile passed away today.

I am not sure how I feel about it yet. I've realized that even when you meet someone knowing they are dying, it doesn't make it any easier when they die. Cecile was my first hospice patient, she helped me realize that it is what I want to do as a career. Since the first time I visited her and she thanked me for making her "feel less forgotten", I knew.

I loved seeing her every week and hearing about her life. From what I gathered, she was very outdoorsy and quite the adventurer. She said she loved camping and riding horses. We talked about all kinds of things, and when we didn't have anything to say, we would just stare at each other and smile. I loved that.

The last time I visited her, she was not doing well. She was having a hard time talking and had to be hooked up to an oxygen machine. The only thing I could understand her say was that she wanted me to paint her nails. I gladly took her hands in mine and painted them. She died with raven red nail polish. What a classy lady.

Goodbye, my friend. I will miss you.