I arrived very early that morning, for my ‘shift’. Only two of us, your ‘chosen family’ tended and safe-guarded your palliative care. I knew it was your last day — I smelled flowers and there were none there.

You were alone. You were anxious and frightened. You were having a terrible time letting go.

They had left the second bed empty beside you. I am so grateful for that. I was able to sing to you for hours with my focus entirely on you as you slowly released your tenacious grip on life. You were waiting for a palliative bed for a long time. Someone else was as tenacious as you my darling.