I wrote this on Sunday 7th July 2013, sitting next to the bedside of my father, as his health slowly deteriorated.  He passed away at dawn on 15th July 2013. At that point I was not by his side.

Stay a bit Longer

Stay a bit longer. Stay a bit longer dad, so that we can see you smile again and, raise your eyebrow once again.

Stay a bit longer so we can enjoy the delights of the food on our lips.

Stay a bit longer so you can fix your eyes on the fish counter and calculate the best deal and then plan what we might do with fish.

Stay a bit longer so we can shake hands.

Stay a bit longer so you can raise your glass of wine.

It was now no longer up to him if he could stay a bit longer.