verbatim

My dad was groggy from pain meds

I guess the cannabis isn’t helping enough

This was first time he’s ever refused to talk to me

I asked my mom to put the phone to his ear.

“I just want you to know I’m thinking of you, Dad

I love you.”

I love you too

He managed

“Just…

Just be at peace”

I said to him.

My mom took the phone away before he heard that part

She apologized

“I’m not saying I want him to…

let go entirely just yet.”

And of course that made my mom cry again for the forever-eth time in the last year

My father still has a long way to go with this

And we not long enough