I Didn’t Know I Was Saying Goodbye
The last time I saw my dad, I almost didn’t go. I’d had a long day at work, my head was pounding, and the thought of sitting in traffic to get to his place made me want to crawl into bed instead. But something in me said, “Go.” When I got there, he was in his favorite armchair, watching an old Western. He looked smaller than I remembered. We talked for an hour — mostly about nothing. The weather. My car needing an oil change. The neighbor’s dog. When I left, I kissed his cheek and said, “See you soon.” I didn’t know “soon” would never come. He had a heart attack that night in his sleep. Now, every time I think about that visit, I’m grateful I went. But I can’t stop wondering — if I’d stayed longer, would I have noticed something was wrong? Could I have done something? I’ll never have that answer. What I do have is the sound of his laugh, the warmth of his hug, and the comfort of knowing our last words were kind.
Comments (1)
MoonTide This made me call my parents immediately.
1 week ago
😶 I’m scared he’ll never see the real me.* 😿 Lying next to him, I wonder: does he know I cry when he forgets my coffee o...
ContinueThe last time I saw my dad, I almost didn’t go. I’d had a long day at work, my head was pounding, and the thought of sit...
ContinueFor years, I was her emergency contact — not officially, but in every way that mattered. She’d call me at 2 a.m. when he...
Continueadvertisement