She woke up early, before her husband, wanting to watch the morning light. She and her husband had tickets to Las Vegas for the long weekend. She loved Vegas-the energy, the lights, the wide variety of food.

She put her cap on as her head was getting cold. The new puppy that her husband bought for her was at her feet, sound asleep.

“Today’s the day, Molly” she looked down at the pure bred.

The puppy scurried, slowly waking up to the sounds of her voice.

Ben was waking up, she could hear him wrestle with the sheets and climb out of bed.

“You’re up early” he mumbled, seeing Lauren on the couch.

“I couldn’t sleep. I was so excited.”

He leans over and kisses her on her cap.

He fixes them breakfast-eggs, toast, orange juice. Even though she had lost most of her sense of taste and appetite, he was still taking care of her and cooking for her.

The room was filling more with the morning light, casting shadows in their small kitchen.

He brings her breakfast. She takes a couple of bits and can’t eat anymore. She’s finished and leaves her full plate on the coffee table.

Ben puts the dishes in the sink and goes back to their room to get their suitcases.

Lauren gets up slowly, stepping over Molly. Molly looks up at her, not wanting Lauren to leave. She gives Lauren a pleading look, looking up at her with her big brown eyes.

“I know, girl. It’s just for the long weekend and then we’ll be back. You’ll see.”

Lauren goes to their bedroom to get dressed. Ben helps her take her pajamas off and slip on a cotton long sleeve blouse and her loose pants so she would be comfortable on the flight.

“We better go. We don’t want to be rushed at the airport.”

She nodded, already loosing her breath.

He carries the suitcases out to the car and then comes back in to walk Lauren out to the car. She leans over to kiss Molly goodbye.

“Bye girl. We’ll be back.”

It’s spring time, so Lauren could hear the birds chirping close by as she walked slowly to the car.

They ride in silence to the airport, about an hour away.

Lauren closes her eyes, thinking of all the fun trips they have had together: attending the summer Olympics in Atlanta, Hawaii with their daughter, shopping trips in Chicago with her mom and sisters. She had really lived a blessed life.

“What are you thinking about?” Ben looks over at her and smiles.

“Just how blessed we are. All the wonderful trips we have taken.”

He agrees looking at the road ahead of him. A tear streams down his face but he quickly wipes it, not wanting Lauren to see it.

They arrive at the airport. She’s tired but she has to go.

She sleeps on the flight with her head on Ben’s shoulder.

They arrive at the Las Vegas airport and Ben calls for a cab.  He gets their luggage-two small overnight suitcase.

When they arrive at their hotel, she stands on the crowded sidewalk, in awe of all of the bright lights, the energy, the massive casinos.

They would gamble but it was for the experience-not whether whey would win a large winning or not.

They checked in at the extravagant front desk, people staring at her bald head and cap.

She ignored them, happy to be out among the living.

“Let them stare.” She said to herself.

“This is what life is about. Adventures.”

They checked into their suite that contained marble floors, a white down comforter with expensive pillows, large paintings on the wall.

She closed her eyes, knowing this would be her last trip.