Catherine was devastated to learn that her husband had died in the fire that engulfed their home. But years later, that devastation turned into shock when she saw him with a young woman on TV. George and Catherine Wilson had been part and parcel of each other’s lives ever since their university days. The couple had tied the knot soon after graduating and lived a happily married life for 51 years. George worked as a doctor at Miami Valley Hospital until he reached retirement age, after which he mostly spent his days teaching young nurses and doctors at his house. Catherine, who was once a famous gynecologist in the same hospital, became a homemaker and would assist her husband with lectures.
The couple sadly didn’t have any children, but being surrounded by curious teenagers kept them from feeling sad about not having kids. One evening, George was getting ready for his lecture when he smelled something burning. “Honey, did you leave the gas on?” he inquired of Catherine. She frequently made tea for him in the evenings before the lectures began, so he assumed it was coming from the kitchen. But that wasn’t the case.
“No,” Catherine replied from her room. “It’s got to be Mrs. Peterson. In the evenings, she and her family usually burn those wood logs in their garden. Can you please close the windows because the smell is choking me as well.”.
George was baffled. Before getting ready for class that evening, he closed all the windows. Still, he went around the house to make sure everything was okay, but as he got to the other end of the house, he noticed one of the rooms was engulfed in flames. “Honey!” he yelled as he dashed to their bedroom. “We have to leave the house right now! The fire is rapidly spreading!” George and Catherine attempted to flee the house, but smoke had filled the entire room before they could. Catherine, who had asthma, choked and fainted, and George, who attempted to save his wife, couldn’t escape either.
Catherine was unconscious for nearly two months following the horrific incident, and when she awoke, she was in a nursing home. She later learned that her husband had died in the fire and that their house had also been destroyed. The woman sobbed for hours, and the loneliness of being alone crept up on her for the first time. But thankfully, Stephanie, one of George’s students and a nurse at the hospital Catherine was admitted to, was always with her during this time. She had moved Catherine to a nursing home and visited her every day.
“I’m grateful for your help, Steph,” Catherine said one day. “However, I need one more favor from you.” “Sure, ma’am,” Stephanie replied. “Let me know if you need anything.” “Can I at least see George one last time? Can you please see if that’s possible?” Catherine’s eyes welled up with tears. “I’m sorry, ma’am,” Stephanie apologized. “The body was in a terrible state when we received it, and I’d recommend you don’t see it.”