From a New York Times column by David French headlined “Being There”:

I want to begin this column by sharing with you one of the worst things I ever did. I was only 18 years old, but that was no excuse. Late one night I got a call from a close friend. “My dad’s on the way to the hospital,” he said. “It’s really bad.” His voice was shaking.

I was shocked. I didn’t know what to say. More important, I didn’t know what to do. I told my friend that I was so sorry. I told him I’d pray for him. And then I went to sleep. I called my friend the next morning. No answer. I asked around. He was at the hospital.