Chronicles of Living. Mr Tom

Mr. Tom. I was 21 and looked 12. Living in Delaware with friends and planning a wedding.... yea.... young and dumb. (hahaha) Delaware was supposed to be a pit stop til a move to Colorado. But instead, I ended the engagement and was living with having recently been the victim of a violent crime. I tried for that illustrious hospital job, but landed in a long term care facility with patients on ventilators and feeding tubes, aka acute care unit. I had my whole life ahead of me and apparently an unshakeable New York accent still. Ohhhh how I desperately tried to shed it, but to no avail. Mr. Tom knew right away. He was an avid Yankees fan and the year was 1996. I would dabble in the occasional game, but no where as passionate about it as I am today. Every day with a big smile on his face, he'd say "how about them Yankees, New York girl?". Then it happened ... they made it to the World Series. His Yanks were finally winning again!! I stayed late nearly every game and sat on the edge of his bed with him. He'd tell me stories of games he went to and how his wife loved the game too. He'd always Thank me for staying late and keeping him company. I should've been thanking him. He helped me move on from my victim status and be a more proactive participant in my life. My friends ❤❤you know who you are, and family supported me as well, and to them I am eternally grateful. Tom was at first a stranger and now a dear friend who looked at me with no judgement, just the love of a friend and helped me and he had no idea . Not long after we won that series, I knocked on Tom's door, and he was staring incredulously at the corner. I asked him what was wrong. He covered his trach and whispered "my wife was just here." I was dumbfounded..... I said "Im so sorry, Tom your wife passed away years ago...." . His eyes widen as he said "I know. She was here." as he motions his hands upwards like she floated upward. I sat down and held his trembling hands. I said "well did you tell her about the Yankees?" he chuckled and we cried. My next shift Tom was gone. I was devastated I wasn't with him. I remember crying to my best friend Maria. And her telling me he understood. Then I remembered his wife was there, either spiritually or he was hallucinating... but he felt her presence and I am sure was comforted by it. I'm fairly certain he's still cheering on our team and I hope he knows how much I cherished our short time together... not as just nurse and patient but as fellow Yankees fans and friends.