Novelist reflects on his death after serious neck injury

For a novelist who closely follows the events around her, this was a gift.

Her near-death experience also brought to mind the death of her long-time partner Robert, who had died in the same house.

He was a composer and Godwin had written award-winning librettos for his music.

Godwin fondly remembers her lifelong best friend, Pat Verhulst, and even writes her a letter to bring her up to speed even though she has passed away.

Her thoughts took her back to the suicide of her father and brother and to her own dark moments when leaving seemed like the solution.

She reflects on what she calls “the place of despair” where one feels:

“I don’t see a way out. Things aren’t necessarily going to get better.”

“This is my life, but I may not be able to do what I want in it.”

Being a very educated and literary man, Godwin naturally read a lot about what others had to say about death. There are quotes from EE Cummings, Samuel Beckett, Emily Dickinson, Philip Larkin, Leo Tolstoy and Henry James, presenting a wide range of conclusions and views, as well as often apocryphal last words.