“Hey, Pa,” Paul said, settling down into the chair beside the hospital bed. The heart monitor chirped unobtrusively on the other side.

It took a long time for the other man’s eyes to focus on him. He seemed to have come out from a far different land, his eyes fixed on a distant, unknowable horizon.

“Paul, son…son, is that you?”

“Yeah, Pa. It’s me.”

“Always a good son…you look so much like your mother, Paul.” He lifted his hand, reaching weakly. Paul took his hand and forced a smile. “Where’s your mother? Is she coming soon? I miss her.”

Sudden tears blossomed in Paul’s eyes. “No, Pa. Ma won’t be coming,” he said, voice shaking.

He really is gone. All that’s left is this…this shell.

“Oh,” his father whispered. “Oh, that’s right. I’m sorry, Paul…I’d forgotten.” His eyes blurred, drifted and focused somewhere over Paul’s right shoulder.

Then his eyes closed, and he fell into a fitful slumber. Paul leaned down to lay his head on his father’s chest, sobbing.

“Don’t leave me. Please don’t leave.”