• “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you all the time,” he began. “I just needed, more time…” He smiled and brushed his son’s hair with the back of his hand. “I remember when you were first born; your mother and I looked at you and said how lucky we were to have a son like you.”

    He let out a sigh and paced back and forth, thinking of what else to say. He felt mass in his throat as he barely made out the next few words. “You have to know…I love you more than anything, even if I sometimes don’t always say it...I just wanted to know you better.”

    “I just wish I had more time to listen to you…to listen to your opinions…to tell you that I…I’m sorry…” Tears began streaming down his cheeks. “If only I was there when you needed me the most…” He looked at his son one last time with longing eyes, gleaming in the light. “Goodbye…” He kissed his son on the forehead and closed the casket…