Vigil

I'm at Hospice with bink, whose father is dying here... maybe, the nurse says, tonight, though of course nobody knows.

bink's father hasn't been a good father, and yet, he is a human being who now has to do this thing humans have to do––die.  
bink is doing a thing humans sometimes do, though they don't have to:
wait and watch. And I am waiting with her.

I'm sitting in a little open room, near bink's father's room. I can see snow falling outside the window, and beyond that, the lights of rush hour traffic.
On my laptop, I looked up a prayer I remember from Vespers.

Yes, it fits. 

Evening Prayer,  by Augustine of Hippo 

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight,
and give your angels and saints charge over those who sleep.
Tend your sick ones,
Rest your weary ones,
Bless your dying ones,
Soothe your suffering ones,
pity your afflicted ones,
Shield your joyous ones,
And all for your love's sake.

Amen.