My friend Bryan died.

Friendship is a funny thing. I had worked in the same place as him for nine years and over that time we had met on many occasions.

And it is only natural that work colleagues become friends. We don’t wear different hats but share a common humanity.

Anyway, I had not seen Bryan for a while but had picked up he was poorly.

I was on holiday in the New Forest with no mobile signal (glorious) but when I got back into civilisation the phone pinged to let me know my friend was in Pershore Community Hospital. The journey home from holiday was terrible; traffic, stair-rod rain, and the grandkids chatting away.

And so when I reached my house I was knackered.

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I could leave seeing Bryan until tomorrow I thought; but a voice inside said: “Go now!” And so I did.

When I saw him, I could tell that he was writing the last lines of his chapter of his life on this earth.

He was still able to chat with me. “I’m glad you’ve come, David. I would like you to take my funeral service.”

We talked about his impending death; his love for his family; and other things which must remain private.

And when I saw him and his lovely family again on Saturday afternoon, he had lost consciousness and two hours later he died. I shudder to think now, that if I had not heard that voice speaking to me I would have missed the opportunity to hear my friend’s final wish.

And to have been involved in one of the final conversations he has this side of eternity was an immense privilege.

The funeral is done now. I did it to the best of my ability and hope I did him proud.

My thoughts are now with his family.

But the object lesson is for me. Act now. Don’t delay. Don’t leave something until tomorrow or else you might not get the chance.

In his life Bryan taught me a lot of things; and at his end he probably taught me the most important lesson of all.