Keeping Time

Does music really obliterate time?

Three of us stand around Dad’s hospice bed like background singers around a microphone, but we’re not harmonizing — not even close. Jack and Laura are fine with Dad dying, but it makes me want to scream.

“He’s had a good life,” Jack says. He shrugs. “Mom’s already gone…”

Laura nods.

The two of them look at me with calm, thoughtful looks on their faces, lik…