The police officer climbed out of his car when he saw me pull up in front of my dad’s place. “Mr. Daniels? Officer Stefan Hixon”

We shook hands.

“You went to the morgue to identify him?”

I nodded.

“A crying shame, a man that young, in his eighties. At least it was painless. Did he give any indication?”

“No. Not to me, at least. They said he left a suicide message.”

“Yeah, I need you to look it over and check out his place. This is all just a formality since they’ve done the autopsy.”

We walked through the front door into the modest, sixty-year-old house where my dad lived his last two decades. Though we visited in virtual reality once or twice a month, I hadn’t been to his house in eleven years. It looked the same: immaculate. My dad was a neat freak, a gene he had failed to pass along.

The officer started the visual. Dad was sitting at his desk at home, expressionless. But he was always expressionless. “This is just a simple message for those I leave behind,” he said. “I’m fortunate to have had so many good friends and family, especially my university colleagues. I’ve appreciated you all. But now it’s time for me to say good-bye. I’ve been diagnosed with CJD, which has no cure. I haven’t told anyone this, not wanting to burden you with my troubles. The doctors give me only a few months of rapid deterioration. I don’t want to go out that way, and I don’t want to be remembered that way. This is better for all of us. My fond farewell to you all.”

That was it.

Why didn’t he tell me? And why didn’t he have more to say than a fond farewell?

The officer shook his head. “That’s rough, man. I’m sorry.” He glanced around the living room. “Well, I just need you to make sure everything seems normal. It’s just you, I take it? No brothers or sisters?”

“No.”

“A life partner?”

“His last one was years ago.”

“Parents?”

“They’re in Washington State. I don’t think he’s talked to them in years.”

He nodded. “I get this a lot—only children having to do everything themselves. That’s the way it is anymore, I suppose.” He paused, then motioned toward the door. “I’ll just wait over there. Take your time looking around. Just don’t remove anything for now.”