User Caf-fiend responded that her mother died alone in the middle of the night in a hospital room after being in and out of the hospital for four years. She admitted that she hadn't made time to see her mother during this stay and still regrets it. "I hope she was able to have a nice conversation with somebody, or squeeze a hand before she went. We weren't very close in the end, but the thought of her being all alone tears me up inside."

Please forgive me

"A call had come out of a shooting that had just occurred. It was in a neighboring division, but we were close so we decided to go," said CopWithoutVest. "We were the first unit and there is a guy, shot right in the forehead walking back and forth. He is on his cell phone screaming and crying and asking his mother to please forgive him for everything he has done because he got shot and was going to die." He posted later that he never found out whether the man died.

Loved his family

"My grandfather who had been married for 42 years and had 4 children and was on his death bed from lung cancer told me he was gay when I was 16. He loved his family," said baconand**ts.

User RagingCacti responded, "I'm not sure if I feel happy for him living a long, fulfilling life with a family he loved; or feel sorry for him, for having to live a life never telling anyone until the very bitter end."

The original poster wrote, "I think he loved his wife as his closest friend, I never knew if she knew or not. I know he loved his kids to death. I respect him greatly."

Living for two

User fatesarchitect said this thread prompted her to register for Reddit to post her story of a 24-year-old cousin who died after two double lung transplants and a long struggle with cystic fibrosis. She said the only spot not bruised or covered with tubes was on her cousin's cheek, and so she rubbed that spot and told stories about travel to Africa and Scotland.

"I'll do everything for you," fatesarchitect said. "It's okay."

"She opened her eyes and smiled at me, and then closed them again. It was the last time I saw her awake and alive. She died a few days later; she got the second transplant, and never woke up.

She loved butterflies, and since she died, I've had them land on me with strange regularity all over the world. She's going with me because I'm living for both of us, or so I'm going to keep telling myself."

"Dammit all," wrote DarkWolfLove. "I have CF as well. And hopefully you don't hate me too much for this, but I don't take care of myself as much as I should. I have it pretty good for such a disease, but I still feel shameful reading this, and knowing other girls who have died young. I'm sorry you lost such a cool person so early. I'm also sorry I take my own life for granted."

Apology accepted

An elderly man living in a predominantly white area was brought into a medical facility where Anjolifwr, who describes himself as a "non-white person," was studying. It was his first patient.

"As I turn around, the patient grabs my hand and says, 'Can I tell you something?'

After I agree, he says, 'I never liked colored folk before.' He went on to explain that he finally understood, and that skin color made no difference, and he was so sorry and appreciative of the care he received. He started crying while he apologized to me.

"I told him I understood, and I 'accepted' his apology (he seemed to be asking me for forgiveness.) I just tried to be as kind and understanding as possible. It seemed to me that he realized he was near his end, and was doing his best to make amends. Honestly, the whole situation made me very sad."

Secret sword

A couple of days before her grandfather died, Staankygirl and her family were summoned to his bedside. "He almost broke into tears," she said. "He told us that he has felt guilty since World War II... something about being in an Asian country.... and then opening fire and clearing the building and him stealing a samurai sword from a glass case in the middle of a government building. He said where it was hidden in his house and that the press would be all over it if they found out, but that he feels horrible for stealing it. Conclusion: We may or may not have been sitting on a multi-million dollar fortune, also, my grandfather was a stand up guy... felt guilty for stealing in the war and wanted to get it out. Class act. A few days later he died. OP will surely deliver when I head back to England and find/ research the sword."

Sense of humor

"My dad's last words (heart attack in the shower, he died while we were waiting 45 f**king minutes for an ambulance to travel two miles) were 'I always knew I'd be bollocks-naked when I died, My life was f**king brilliant,' " Gillybilly wrote.

"My mom's last words to me were 'You have to learn the difference between Chinese and Japanese people, because they don't like it when you mix them up.' I wish I was joking," said SydTheDrunk.

Ending on a high note

"My pediatrician told me about how when she was still a really new doctor she had a little boy come in who had stuck a penny up his nose and had to get it removed. He was crying to his mom that he wanted her to have his Stretch Armstrong doll and that his younger brother was still not allowed in his room after he died. He basically dictated his will to my pediatrician and his mom," wrote celiabobelia