A Passing Friend

You lay there (so painfully still), with shallow breath and disarmingly sunken eyes that once shone brightly with the fierce glint of life.

As your breath grows ever shallower (and I grow increasingly more anxious), the glory days pass before me.

I put sand in your hot-dog while we were partying at the beach and you went crazy (chased me for ages). Then we fell about aching with the laughter of youth.

At my side that day, when the idiot started a fight, and his buddy kicked me in the head. You stayed and fought while I recovered and then we both beat them off.

.......and then fell about laughing all over again.

Your girl jilted you and boy were you down for days with the blues. I slept over at yours and we stayed up watching Blues Brothers because you needed the laughter of it all.

We got through it.

Now here I stand at your bedside looking down at my fallen friend, the stalwart who saw me through it all. I collapse into a chair, overcome, and hoping against everything that we'll get through this too.

But I know we can't.

Your eyes open, and you gasp for air, then the angels take you. I hold your palm but no pulse.

You've gone.

From somewhere an alarm sounds, nurses mill about and a doctor draws his breath with pursed lips.

Gone.

So, what now.

I'm given the news soberly but it's okay, we knew it was coming. I sit at your bedside now looking across at my best friend,

I'm so sorry I couldn't be alongside you for this fight.

It's raining now.

I kiss your forehead.

Goodbye mate. You were the.....Best.