In a dreary April, just before spring began to show its colors, Ann Krey, who was the beloved of the narrator, fell ill with a severe infection that marked the start of her tragic decline. The infection stemmed from a minor scratch she received while feeding a squirrel. This seemingly innocuous injury rapidly escalated, leading to her hospitalization where she was treated with penicillin, only to develop a more serious complication, streptococcal pneumonia.

The swift progression of her illness was shocking, as she went from a simple scratch to burial in just a month. This brief yet poignant sequence of events highlights the fragility of life and the unexpected turns that fate can take. The narrative captures not only the medical horror but also the emotional impact of losing a loved one so suddenly and tragically.