Pushing away the helplessness, I stood, leaning forward cautiously as if he might disappear when I touched him. Gently, I placed a kiss to his weathered and work-hardened hands; remaining oblivious to the outside factors, the bright beautiful day, the sparkling water and beautiful garden.

I became enveloped.
Only seeing Death.
Death claiming another precious addition that had once adorned my life.

Tears once again retraced the crisscrossed trails of denial that were my cheeks, as I silently said goodbye to the one person who had always had faith in me.