I was at the hospice with my fiance's dad when he died- James' siblings weren't able to get there in time, and James had used up his leave.
Watching Fred die, holding his hand and telling him (even though he was in a coma- there's evidence that sometimes they can hear you) that his children loved him and were proud of him, and that I was thankful having had the opportunity to know him, combing his hair and washing his face, sponging glycerine on his dry lips, trimming his fingernails, turning him in his bed... sitting up all night next to the bed with his hand in mine that last few hours...