Just a moment of normal

Last night, around 3 a.m., Ed was in his wheelchair, restless, itchy awake.  He sleeps in his chair now. He's in his chair all the time.  I woke up to rub his arms, scratch his ears, massage his shoulders.

He laid his head on my chest, which he never does.  I don't know why, I only know it felt odd.  I kept rubbing his skinny shoulders; he fell in to a soft sleep.  He woke up and said stop.  Just let me stay here like this for a little while.

I forgot what it's like to just stop for a minute and actually comfort my husband without it feeling like I was duty bound.  A bitter, frustrated, overworked nurse.

In the dark, his head on my chest, my hands resting on his shoulders, it was nice.