He saw the old man waving at him as he approached the bed.
The ward was busy with visitors preparing to leave within moments of the allotted hours ending. The visitor was running late. The patient hailing him was extremely old and frail. He could see how much effort he had to make, just to raise his arm. He knew he could only stop briefly if he wanted to catch the bus. He pulled up a chair. The old man took his hand with a surprisingly firm grip.
His eyes filled with tears, and in little more than a whisper, he said, “There you are, I knew you’d come. Well done, my boy. I know it’s a long journey from where you live.”
The visitor looked around, before saying, “I’m afraid I’m a bit short of time at the moment… but I’m glad that I could be here.”
“Yes, my son, it has been so long…”
His grip relaxed and his head rolled back, as tears filled his eyes again. “Thank you, for giving me such a peaceful end,” he gasped. With that, his eyes slowly closed for what would be the last time.
The visitor looked around at the almost empty ward as the young nurse approached. She stood at the end of the bed for a few moments before saying, “Excuse me, but I don’t think you’re his son, are you?”
Without looking up, in a soft voice, he said, “Briefly, yes, I was. For just a few precious moments, I was.”
He looked up, smiling and rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. As he stood to leave, he said, “Precious for both of us, I think”.