LatinosUSA

The house in which Martin shot himself three months ago

is seemingly vacant, but what I’m wondering is what

happened to his wife, Jean— whether she went to live

with one of her sons, or whether she’s now in a care facility.

I recall the last time I saw them together– which was about

two weeks before he did it— we joked about getting old.

That there were absolutely no redeeming aspects to it.

And I only found out later from a guy on their block

that Martin had a terminal condition and didn’t want to suffer

any longer. That he had Jean’s okay to do what he did.

What I didn’t ask was whether she was there when he did it—

which I didn’t want to know.

Forty plus years I knew them both— mostly him—though

I really didn’t know him very well: mainly short conversations

when we ran into each other in the neighborhood or happened

to be at the gym at the same time.

Nonetheless, I feel sad when I pass by their house, 

which I did once again the other day. . .