The door creaked open on rusty hinges as I cautiously shuffled into the too-white room, “Bernie?

A stale voice answered, “Fred”

“God Bernie, I-“

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah.”

I frowned, “no, it’s not okay. God, if I’d known… Bernie it was just a silly joke.”

“Okay.”

“Josh and I, you know, we really weren’t thinking.” I stuttered, my words tumbling out in a rush of emotion, “And then you… and … Oh god, Bernie.”

“Okay.”

“It was silent in the room as he gazed emptily at the ceiling and my eyes glued to the floor, “I came to see you as quick as I could,” I ventured.

“Okay.”

“Josh… he wanted to come too.”

“Okay.”

“I spoke to the doctors… they said you’re going to be alright.”

“Okay.”

I chocked back tears, “Bernie… forgive me?”

His dead eyes turned towards where I was, missing my face b a foot or so, “Okay.” He said, as the tears he couldn’t see ran down my face.