That sounds like "Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin.

--Ben
----------------------------------------------
Ben Treat
Director, Bangor Public Library
145 Harlow St, Bangor, ME 04401
Direct to me: 207-922-6064
Library's main line: 207-947-8336
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On Tue, Oct 19, 2021 at 8:24 AM Weddle, Jacqueline <
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> Looking for the title and author of the following short story:
> The story goes as follows:
>             A woman is visited by her adult children with bad news: the
> evening commuter train dad takes each day on his way home from work has
> crashed, there are no survivors.  The kids are concerned for mom, she is
> after all "elderly with a weak heart." Mom excuses herself from the
> communal living space to "lie down to rest."  As we follow mom into her
> bedroom we realize by her internal monologue just how freeing this is.
> Finally, after all these decades a chance for a life of her own.  There's a
> commotion in the living room, she comes out to find her husband is alive
> and well, he just got home.  He'd been running late and took a different
> train, he's fine.  Mom drops dead. Reader left to wonder: did she die from
> her weak heart and the roller coaster of stress, or because her husband is
> alive and she's not free?
>
> I want to say it's from the late 40's - the late 50's?
>
> I read it in school (college English 101?) in probably one of those Norton
> Anthologies.
> Any idea greatly appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Jackie @ the Maine State Prison
>