Vase

The vase of flowers outside her door signified she didn’t have long. We went in to soft music, low lights and the absence of institutional clutter. My nephew and his family FaceTimed from their just-woken-up morning in Switzerland. The others had visited over the last few days. The chaplain, a lovely woman, came and talked and, since we thought mum wouldn’t object, said a prayer. We said our goodbyes.