As they lowered the casket, a woman looked at all of there mourners as she leaned over and asked, “What did they say she died from?” The other woman trying to keep her sobs in check, finally said in a voice cracking as she spoke, “It doesn’t matter what the death certificate says, she lived and died with a broken heart.”
“But no one dies from a broken heart,” the first woman replied. “Ssh, the service isn’t over,” was the reply. Meg stood looking at the casket and began to think back over the life of her friend. “Did she really live with a broken heart and I missed it,” she thought to herself.
They met in second grade. Meg and Tammy had liked all the same things growing up. Meg was the quieter of the two. It was okay for Tammy to be the leader, the one always in charge. When had they gown apart and she not know the sorrow her friend carried inside.
Sue, still curious about what their friend died from asked again as they walked to their car. “I know no one dies from a broken heart, what did her death certificate say?” ‘Sue, why is this so important to you?” Meg asked. Sue’s question was just as troubling as Tammy’s death.
The ride to the cemetery was quiet as Sue realized that if Meg knew what caused Tamny’s death, she was not willing to share that information. Slowly they both got out of the car and followed the others to the grave site. Soon it would be dark. Sue could not understand why the funeral had taken place to late in the afternoon. There were too many questions around Tammy’s death now this funeral.
The final words were said, and the casket was lowered into the ground. Tammy had lived her life to the fullest yet only ten or so people were there to say goodbye. Meg and Sue were the last to leave the cemetery. The ride to Sue’s was quiet with one or two sobs from Meg.
Later that night Sue still troubled about the day decided to research. Was there such a thing as death by a broken heart. She was amazed at what she found. No death certificate would ever list broken heart as the cause, grief so deep could cause someone to die and thus the term broken heart.
Sue sat replayed the life she knew of her friend. She had not known Tammy as long as Meg. She met them in college and had moved back to their hometown. They met once a week for the past six years. It was only in the past month that Tammy had begged off. Her excuse had been she was busy with work. Tammy was an accountant. Her busy months were usually March, April, September, and October. So what was so critical to miss their gathering in July?
What happened in Tammy’s life that we missed? Then Sue corrected herself. Somehow she had a feeling Meg knew but had not told her. My friend was hurting, and my other friend did not let me know. They put me on the outside and kept me out of the loop. Is this how a broken heart begins?