At-Death

I mourned him way before he died.
Over the years I watched as he slowly lost who he was.   

I saw his once strong, fiery personality become more akin to ash.   

I saw the fire dwindle. 
And I morned for the loss of flames. 
But I had never truly understood what it meant for the fire to completely vanish.  And now that it has happened I am not sure I even understand it now.  

Although I watched the fire burn away, I had always held hope that somehow, some way, there would be fuel thrown at the fire, or maybe a gust of oxygen to bring it back to what it was. But now there is no fire to bring back.   

Even though I had mourned him way before he died, I still had hope that when I looked into his eyes he would remember who he was. Now there lays nothing behind those eyes.   

Now, who he was, only can exist in the memories of those who knew him.