“He said my name aloud, but he was asleep. I crawled into his hospital bed with him again as best I could with all the extra paraphernalia in the way, and then the flood started. I began to cry a little bit, and then more poured out. I could not stop it. How could I know a gushing river would burst through the dam of appropriateness and strength I try to project and mix with the I-Love-Yous coming from my mouht and the giant tears I did not know were waiting behind my eyes? How do anyone's eyes stay in their head with such pressure swimming and bleeding onto a pillow?

I Love you, Daddy. I am going to miss you, I thought to myself.

"Good-bye," I choked out the words.

"Good-bye, honey," said my sleeping, dreaming Daddy.”