I only ever saw Dad go to church for weddings and funerals, and I asked him once, “but why do you believe in all that?”

The Sacrament by Aprill Allen

My father died of a brain tumour at 69 years old in the January of 2016. He was admitted to hospice on a Thursday and died the Friday of the following week. Nobody really talks about the process of dying and what those who will go on living can expect to see. This is one moment from those 8 days.

Aprill is a freelance management consultant and content writer, a volunteer board member, a parent and a creative writing major at the University of Melbourne.

You can find Aprill on her website, Twitter, and Instagram.  

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Aprill Allen's short story, The Sacrament, is performed by Aprill. The story is edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Last Lights" and "Sunset on Sandy Isle".

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Bpcycle By Nofeedbak CC BY 3.0

Door-open-close By Amholma CC0 1.0

Eating Human By Virtualwindow CC BY-NC 3.0

Groaning By Vmgraw CC0 1.0

Male breathing By FALCONS SHADOW CC BY-NC 3.0

Hospital room ambience with oxygen system noise By Nixeno CC BY-NC 3.0

Organ By Caquet CC BY 3.0

Pouring-water By Adamjordaan14008 CC BY-NC 3.0

Towel Off After Bath By Sgcardinal CC0 1.0

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