Posted by EIRON on August 5, 1998 at 02:27:19:
Marsha,
You know that on your father's last day in the hospital he asked you to bring him a can of beer, which the hospital staff was, for some reason, not allowing him.
You refused.
I want you to think about that, Marsha.
You refused your sick father's request.
You remember the look on his face, blowing his nose down his tubes, his stunned look of hurt and disbelief that his daughter would refuse a direct order.
Then his anger.
Then his coughing.
The awful coughing that summoned the nurse.
The coughing you could still hear as the candy-striper ushered you away.
This was your goodbye to your father, Marsha.
Did you love him, Marsha? Or did you kill him?
EIRON