Never Got to Say Goodbye

On September 3rd 2020, my 88 year old father enterted a rehab hospital. The COVID policy was no visitors- not even family. For 2 months he languished there, alone, as he said on many phonecalls, “staring at the wall.” I could hear the light leave his voice over the weeks when we spoke. My sisters and I vowed to be there the second they allowed it. On November 5th, I got the phonecall that he had died. Alone. No family to hold his hand, comfort him, tell him they loved him. This man, full of life and humor, intelligence and wit, who had led a wonderful life- deserved more, and I’ll never get to say goodbye.