Sunshine Story Per Brenda’s Prompt

Author:
Pamela Oglesby
May 26, 2021 7:26 AM EDT

Sunshine

Tom is a tall, good-looking man with dark curly hair and green eyes. He is a computer programmer and works from home most of the time. He refers to his wife, Susan, as Sunshine. He also has a four year old golden retriever that he named Charlie. Charlie is well-trained and stays close to Tom most of the time.

Susan is a petite woman with blond hair and pale blue eyes. Tom and Susan have been married six years when Tom was just diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Tom has always been a strong man, but this diagnosis sent him reeling into anger and self-pity. He often has a fever and chills, along with a headache. He has numbness and weakness in his arms and legs also, plus he has lost interest in making love to Susan.

Susan is a nurse, working in an intensive care unit at the hospital on the first shift. While Susan is driving home tears are dripping down her cheeks as she remembers their plans for starting a family soon, and they have only been in their new home for six months. She is also worried about taking care of Tom. She dries her cheeks after pulling into their driveway, and she wonders how Tom has made it through the day.

As Susan walks in the door Tom calls out to her. “Susan, is that you?”

Susan sighed, “Just who else would it be? Haha! How are you doing today?”

“How do you think I’m doing? You don’t know anything. You aren’t sick, and you can go to work every day. I don't have anything to laugh about!” He was lying on their bed and Charlie was lying close by on the floor.

“Sweetheart, I know you are suffering. I am here for you. I am going to make you something good to eat.” Susan had never seen Tom act the way he had lately. Normally he was in good spirits, and he didn’t raise his voice before the diagnosis.

Susan went into the kitchen and started cooking a dinner with salmon, which was Tom’s favorite. She took the dinner plate to Tom with a smile on her face. Tom was still lying in bed, but he had dozed off, so Susan sat down and watched him sleep with tears running down her face again.

Tom woke up and said, “Why are you sitting there watching me?”

Susan quickly wiped the tears off of her face. “I brought you dinner up to you, and it’s getting cold.”

“Give it to me, and I will try to eat, but I’m not hungry.”`

Tom took the plate and took a couple of bites. “That is all I can do, Sunshine.”

Susan looked at the plate and saw that he had only taken a very few bites.

“If you want to live Tom, you have to eat.”

“I can’t just force myself to be hungry!” Tom said in a loud voice.

Tom, I want you to live. I understand your frustration, but I love you and want you to live, We have a good life together.” she said again as she walked over to Tom and held his hand.

“Then, why in the hell did I have to get a disease that has no cure?”

“I do understand, but Tom you're still walking. We’ll see what the doctor has to say next Thursday. Have you contacted that psychologist he recommended?”

Tom just rolled over and said nothing else.

Susan has spent time researching multiple sclerosis as she wants to learn everything she can about the disease. Her girlfriend, Julie, called her that evening.

“Susan, we need a girl’s night, ” said Julie.

“That’s a little hard right now Julie. Tom needs so much support.”

Two Month Later

Susan walked in the front door carrying bags of groceries and headed for the kitchen. Surprisingly Tom was sitting at the table reading a magazine while drinking a soda. Susan smiled at him. Of course, Charlie was lying at Tom’s feet.

Tom smiled at Susan and said, “Hi Sunshine. I love the way you always smile at me.”

Susan was surprised at his comment since most of his recent comments were negative. When they were first married and up until his diagnosis, they were often laughing. They had also been very affectionate.

Susan walked over and sat down at the table. “Tom, are you feeling better?”

“Not really, but I know I don’t want to feel miserable all the time. I know I will end up in a wheelchair, but that could take twenty years. In the meantime, I have prayed and I have talked to a psychologist several times. She has Helped me to take a look at my own behavior, and I didn’t like what I saw. We have had virtual visits.”

“Oh Tom. I didn’t know you had talked to a psychologist or that you talked to God. Haha! I am so happy you are not feeling as miserable now.”

“Look Susan. This doesn’t mean I will always be cheerful or even calm, but I am going to try.”

“Oh Tom, I love you so much, and I am so happy.”

“We are going to live each day to the best of our abilities. You are the sunshine of my life Susan.’ Tom smiled and arose from his chair. “Come here Sunshine. I need a kiss!”