Ellen Pines spends much of her days sitting by the lit Christmas tree in her senior-living apartment looking outside. At age 80, she feels like she’s just waiting for the grim reaper to come knocking on her door. On most days, the only people in and out of her apartment are her nurse, Jordan, and her poker friends.

One day, seeing she was sitting in her usual spot, staring outside, Jordan asked, “Penny for your thoughts, Ms. Pine?”

Ellen sighed, “Just wondering about how long I have left and the way I’d go. Do you ever think about that, Jordan?”

(100 words)

For Friday Fictioneers