An old man died yesterday

An old man died yesterday.
In hospital.
In the bed next to mine.
Neither of us wanted to be here.
He got away before me.

He wouldn't eat or take the pills the nurses gave him.
All he did was lay there.
Waiting.
Perhaps he'd done all he needed and was ready to move on.
Fulfiled.
I hope so.
I hope it wasn't because life and he had let each other down.
I just couldn't contemplate the pain of those last moments - with death the only cure.

On one occasion I smiled at him and offered a greeting.
He smiled back serenely but didn't reply.
There was nothing left to say.
Perhaps he knew his silent ending would reveal two possible paths to me and for that I thank his departing soul.

I know which one to choose before I go.