It was a sad procession, returning Dad back to Mom's room, settling him in the bed. Was it pure Hayle stubbornness on my part I refused to give up? We'd been through so much, survived unbeatable odds before. Why should this be any different?

And yet, it felt different. If only because it seemed all of our avenues had been explored. But this couldn't be it, the end. It couldn't.

My dad couldn't just die.

I hovered at the doorway, not sure what to do, torn between ...