Naameh Is Gone
I cried in Shem's arms as we sat by Mother's bedside. She had been ill for a few weeks now, but earlier today she had a heart attack and was hanging on by a thread now. She was seventy-seven, which seemed so young to me. Ham and Japheth were with us, on her other side, while Na'el watched the younger kids.
We sat by her side all night, until her breathing ceased. I felt my heart stop as her chest stopped moving. Shem's grip around me tightened as he sobbed into my hair. He and Naameh had always been close. He took Noah's death hard, but I knew he was going spiral now. It was hard to imagine life without Mother; she was such a driving force in every one of our lives. I couldn't imagine Mila growing up without her grandmother.
"I am going to get tell Na'el and the kids." Ham said after about an hour.
"Only tell the older ones." I told him. "I want Shem and me to talk to Mila."
Ham nodded and left to tell the family. Shem was a mess so I took him outside to get some fresh air. It was spring time, but there was still a hint of a winter chill. I rubbed his back as he sobbed onto my shoulder. I was upset as well, but I knew Shem needed me. He was taking this so much harder than I thought he would.
"Shem, we need to be strong and brave for the children." I said to Shem. "Ham is telling them all now. And think of our grandchildren."
I tried to calm him down but nothing was working. I was about to give up until Adah came over to us. She knelt down next to us and hugged Shem.
"Uncle Ham told us that she is gone." She said.
"Are you alright?" I asked her, stroking her cheek.
"I am fine; there is no need to worry about me." She replied.
It had been a week since Naameh passed away and Shem was still a wreck. He barely ate and I know he was not eating. Adah and Japheth had offered to take Mila earlier in the week and I was grateful they did; the last thing I wanted was for Mila to see her father in this state. He had been avoiding me and was spending his days just staring out the window. It pained me to see him so upset, seeing as he was never one to show his emotions; he was usually the one comforting me. I was grieving as well of course, but I was dealing with it day by day. Evi kept telling me that she thought I was in denial. I did not think I was in denial; the truth was that I had prepared myself for this day when Naameh got sick originally. I knew that it was only a matter of time before she left us.