The  only sounds that could be heard  in the darkness were the sounds of the life support system, and the steady beeping of the heart monitor.  Jane had never felt so alone in her life.  Her only love and dearest friend lie dying.  How could this be happening?  He was such a wonderful man and had spent most of his life helping others.
    "It should have been me Lord not him," she thought half aloud half to herself.  I deserved to be here, if he dies, I killed him," she thought as she laid her head on his still and lifeless hand.
    That horrible moment in time was forever etched in her mind.  It seemed so long ago now, though it had in reality only been a few hours. They had gone out for breakfast in their favorite little diner.  Something they had done on occasion. They enjoyed spending countless hours together, talking about their family and about times past and the future.  Since John's retirement the two had become inseparable. 
    This day had started out just like many others.  John had awakened  early and woke Jane with the smell of fresh coffee.  "Get up sleepy head.  We are burning daylight.  Let's get this show on the road."
    "It is only 6:30 a.m. Can't our morning walk wait until around 10:00 a.m.?  My eyes aren't open yet.  The sun is still sleeping, come on back to bed," she groaned as she patted the pillow next to her. 
    "Not on your life!  Here is your coffee, your sweats, and your sneakers. Now pop open those baby blues and shake a leg.  Tell you what!  You make it snappy, and I'll spring for breakfast at the diner on our way home." 
"Okay, Okay, give me a minute to stretch, and I'll meet you on the patio in five."
    That is where this whole nightmare began.  Jane wondered how such a beautiful day could end this way.  They had their walk as usual and had stopped in the diner for coffee and the forbidden Danish.  They had laughed over how many miles they would have to walk the next day to get rid of the Danish.  John had been busy drawing off plans and explaining to her the details of this year's new flower garden. 
    Suddenly the door of the diner flew open and a strange kid came in looking all weird.  He began waving around a gun and shouting.  "Nobody move."
    Jane jumped and in the process knocked her fork to the floor.  The young boy turned toward her and John, slinging his gun around.  The rest was all a blur.
She remembered hitting the floor hard, and at the same time she heard an explosion.  She felt something heavy fall on top of her.  She lay there on the floor in a daze thinking she must have been hit.  Jane felt something on her face.  She realized it was blood, not her own, but John's.  John had been quick to throw her to the ground and had tried to cover her body with his own.  He wanted to protect the one he loved, with no thought of himself, but only for her safety. 
    The kid with the gun was screaming, and she heard the gun click several more times before he ran out the door in which he came.  The sirens were sounding, but it was all in vain.  Her John lie in her arms, his  life's blood oozing out of his body.  She cradled his head in her lap, crying as the paramedics arrived. 
Now here lay her best friend with only the sound of his heart monitor to comfort her. Jane felt someone touch her shoulder.  She turned to see their son Johnathan standing behind her. 
Johnathan nor his mother had any words of comfort for each other.  They both just stood around his father's bed in silence for what seemed hours.
    Suddenly, Jane felt John's finger move ever so slightly beneath her hand.  She looked up to see his eyes flutter slowly open. With eyes full of tears, she began kissing his hand, then his face.  She moved his oxygen mask for just a second to touch his lips.
    "Oh John! Why did you do this?  Why?  I'm not worth it," she cried.
    She heard him barely whisper,  "I love you.  To me you are worth it.  I would do it again." 
   With this his eyes closed, and the room fell silent again.  There was not even the beep of the heart monitor now, just a steady hum indicating to her that her John was gone.  He had given his life, that she, unworthy as she felt, might live.