I knew Jean would feel Bruce’s death in a particular way, her room was close to his. Jean is a shy and very quiet person, Red and I found her in the activity room listening to music with a few of the other residents. She knew something had happened, she saw all the coming and going, but she wasn’t sure. She asked me if Bruce was dead, and I said yes.

Normally, I would have said I didn’t know. It wasn’t really my place to do that, the staff was telling people a few at a time, but I know Jean well and she doesn’t miss much and I couldn’t bring myself to lie to her. She would surely find out when she went back to her room, everyone downstairs knew.

I said yes, Bruce, had passed away, and Jean lowered and shook her head and thought silently for a bit. She asked if she could see Red, and I waved him over and Jean leaned down and kissed him on the nose.

She held his head for the longest time. Then she took my hand and squeezed it and I gave her a hug and left the room to visit some other people.