Zach's story is moving and I appreciate him sharing. I hope it brought some cathartic closure, Z, and BTW you're an excellent writer. I'm sorry for your loss. I've walked in those moccasins but failed to come away with anything positive from being there during the active process of dying. I learned much more from the living moments, first about her younger self, then about myself, during 6 years caring for demented mom in her sometimes sweet state where our knowledge of each other was a mystery to both of us and every hour was a surprise, sometimes (usually) heartbreaking, occasionally (rarely) joyous and with laughter.