I have to die, so let me go away peacefully like one of those poor, tired leaves.” “Finish your painting soon for I want to see the last leaf fall. Sue requested Johnsy not to look out of the window. She would sell it to fetch money for them. She kept the curtain open because she needed the light to complete the painting. Sue tried to show affection towards Johnsy. Please, my dear friend,” she begged Johnsy, “promise not to look out of the window while I paint.” I want to finish the painting and get some money for us. I can’t draw the curtain for I need the light. Sue sat on Johnsy’s bed, kissed her and said, “You are not going to die. She wanted to see the last leaf fall before sunset and than she could die peacefully. Then she said that four leaves were remaning on the ivy plant. I want to see the last one fall before it gets dark. “I am not hungry… Now there are only four leaves left. The doctor was sure that she would recover. The leaves had nothing to do with her health. Sue replied that this did not make any sense. “What have old ivy leaves to do with your getting well? The doctor is confident that you will get better.” She added that she had known this for the last three days. Johnsy said that she would die when the last leaf fell. “I have known this for the last three days.” “When the last leaf falls, I will die,” said Johnsy with finality. Sue replied that it was autumn season and it was natural for the creeper to shed its leaves. “It is autumn,” said Sue, “and the leaves will fall.”
She added that three days ago there were a lot of keaves on the ivy creeper – almost one hundred but now only five were left. Then she said that the leaves were falling faster. Three days ago there were almost a hundred leaves. As strong winds were blowing, the leaves of the creeper were falling.
She saw an ivy creeper plant beside the window of the room. Johnsy was making a backward counting while looking out of the window. Sue heard that Johnsy was speaking softly. In the strong wind outside, the creeper was shedding its leaves. She saw an old ivy creeper climbing half-way up the brick wall opposite their window. She was looking out of the window and was saying, “Twelve!” After sometime she whispered “eleven”, then “ten”, then “nine”, “eight”, “seven”. She quickly rushed to the bed and heard Johnsy counting backwards. Suddenly Sue heard Johnsy whisper something. Sue would whistle at times to brighten up Johnsy. Sue sat beside her and started painting in order to create interest in her and take her mind off her illness. She discussed interesting things like clothes and fashion with her but Johnsy remained unaffected. To take Johnsy’s mind off her illness, she whistled while working. Sue brought her drawing-board into Johnsy’s room and started painting. Johnsy continued to lie still on her bed. She talked about clothes and fashions, but Johnsy did not respond. Sue tried her best to make Johnsy take an interest in things around her. In such a case, medicicnes would not work on her. The doctor said that it seemed that Johnsy had decided not to live and did not want to recover from the illness. If she doesn’t want to live, medicines will not help her.” The doctor said “Johnsy, it seems, has made up her mind that she is not going to get well. Sue replied that there was nothing to worry and asked why did the doctor think so. The doctor secretly asked Sue if something was the matter with Johnsy. One day the doctor took Sue aside and asked her, ”Is anything worrying Johnsy?” The doctor visited them daily but there was no improvement in Johnsy’s health.
Sue was worried about Johnsy and called the doctor. She remained in bed and would look out of the window. In the month of November Johnsy was struck by pneumonia. Pneumonia: a disease caused due to the infection of the lungs Although he came every day there was no change in Johnsy’s condition.
She would lie in her bed without moving, just gazing out of the window. Johnsy fell very seriously ill in November.
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