God’s providence or karma brought them together – it changed both their lives.
He was just graduated from nursing school, and turned 25 years old. Excited to be starting his new job at a hospice, he moved to a whole new city to start his career. The first day on the job he met Stella.
Stella was 83, and she found the days long, dark and lonely at the hospice. She was looking out the window at the rain, when her new caregiver came to bring her breakfast at 7:30 a.m.
Good morning Stella, my name is Luke but please call me Skywalker. Today is my first day and I will be your caregiver. How are you today?
He looked deep into Stella’s eyes and for the first time in weeks she felt like she was in the centre of someone’s attention, and not somewhere out on the edge.
Stella looked into his eyes – If I can call you Skywalker , you can call me Star. Tell me about yourself.
So he did. He opened up like a burst dam in the middle of rainstorm.
Skywalker talked about his collection of glass slugs, his love of science fiction old movies, his sweet tooth, his favorite tea (peppermint) and how he became a nurse.
Star soaked it all in, all the stories and felt like a girl on a first date memorizing all Skywalker’s stories. The best part though was that Skywalker was looking at her the whole time and she knew that he wanted to hear her favorite things, and was really interested in the telling.
So the telling, and the sharing began and flowed. She talked about working on a freighter, her favorite holidays, her collection of bookmarks, and her love of old science fiction movies.
Hours became days, and they were as comfortable together as a flannel shirt and jeans. Relaxed and naturally warm together they were, they brightened up the autumn days that grew darker for themselves and warmed everyone they met.
Unspoken was the understanding that Stella was not going home. The blood pressure checks, and the gradually increasing pain relief through her IV were a constant overshadowing but still the closeness developed between Skywalker and Stella.
They enjoyed a gift of invisible sunlight days but the clouds beckoned and finally Star felt the weakness bone deep and waved Skywalker to sit beside her.
A feeling of dread gripped his heart as he pulled a stool close, and held her bony fingers in his warm pink hands.
Almost a whisper she spoke – Luke, I love you. Thank you for taking care of me, the last few weeks have been wonderful getting to know you.
Almost a whisper and his eyes wet with tears – Star, I love you too. Thank you for being my first patient. I will never, never ever, forget you and our talks together.
Nothing else was said. Luke stayed there and held Stella’s hands as her eyelids closed and she slept for the last time.
Sweet dreams Star.
Many thanks for reading my little original story, I hope you enjoyed and envisioned Skywalker and Star. Your thoughts and comments are welcome. If you want to read the next “chapter” go to this link.
carving pumpkins 
The tradition was born.
Big forever hugs.
