What would you have told the person at the time, if you had known then you'd never see them again?

I would say.“I love you.”

Great answer @lucillelucillelucille I agree totally so that is what I would have said too.

“I love you” and “thanks”

Can’t put it any better than that. GA’s to you all.

You have meant more to me than you can imagine. I’m sorry for breaking your heart.

“Don’t do it!!!” :(

I love you. Thank you for always being there for me.

You are the most amazing woman in the world. Thank-you for being there for us. I don’t know how I’ll make it without you. You have sacrificed so much for you kids. I hope that I’m making you proud. I love you.

I say that, still.

Most recently?
“Don’t do it, you are loved far more than you realize.”

With my sister, we talked on the phone and said everything there was to say. I had planned a trip to see her, but she died before I got there. But I have no regrets.

When my father was dying of acute mylocitic lymphoma, I was going to fly from Utica, NY, to Beaumont, Texas, to see him one last time. My aunt ( his sister ) talked me out of it because she said he was very deteriorated and that shouldn’t be the last way I remember him. He died about a week later, so I had to fly down for the funeral anyway. I have always regretted not going to see him while he was still alive.

What would I have said to him? Probably that, although he and I had been at odds for most of my adulthood, and although I didn’t understand him, I still loved him, and always would,

I’m sorry for not being persistent enough with my true feelings for you. I will always hole you dear to me no matter what.

Fuck getting court-martialed, move to another country and they can’t do anything about it.

I don’t know what I would’ve said, but I know my mom would’ve liked the chance to say some things to her father, my grandfather, before he died of cancer.
We live far away from the rest of my mom’s family, even though she values family over anything. So it’s very hard for her.

Especially when a younger brother—who later we find out was just trying to angle for the entire will—lies over and over again on the phone, telling us everything is fine and that she’s not needed even though she’s begging to come. Until all of a sudden he tells us it isn’t okay anymore, and that their father wants her.

Especially when we drop everything as soon as we hear, pack up, and go to the airport to go to see her father, so she can say her goodbyes. But our plane gets delayed by two hours. And so we get to her father’s house an hour after he passes.

Especially when she finds out only now that the brother had been letting and encouraging her father, my grandfather, to not go to Chemo, and keeping the rest of the family away, too. That she now beats herself up for not going, because maybe she would’ve saved him, if not at least let him know he’s still loved.

Especially when she has to fight to even get a few of her parent’s things (her mother passed, too, before her father). And then a little later the brother, who got the house, knocks it down, destroying the rest of the memories.

For me, I would want to get to be with my pets. But not say anything, since they don’t speak English…
My mom, I know, has a ton she would’ve liked to tell her father.

Wow, this would apply to several people I have known.

To a boy I used to know- “I’ve been head over heels in love with you for three years, and your girlfriend is a psychotic stalker. Just thought you should know that before you go.”

To a previous teacher- “You’ve made school truly amazing for me and I love you dearly.”

To another teacher- “You’re an incredible teacher, an even better friend and (if I were clairvoyant) please don’t lose hope and kill yourself 5 years from now.”

To the pedophile- “You were a horrible lay, you’re so pathetic that you didn’t even pop my cherry, and I’m going to laugh when I find out you’re in prison.”

To my Grandma- “I love you and I really appreciate the beautiful quilt you made me.”

”Please don’t get in your car dad” – - – he was killed in a car accident

@partyparty I gave you a GA, but it comes with an I sorry for your loss. :(

I have said that I loved them, and that they are with me always, as they really are. For me, my grandparents are in their 50’s, even though they died in their 80’s.

I just wish I’d given him (my dad) a kiss goodbye – I was 13 when he left for what turned out to be his last ever voyage, and thought I was too old for such things. Three months later the ship sank in the South China Sea with the loss of all hands.

Most recently:

You’re such an inspirational person, and one of the strongest people I’ve ever known.

@noelleptc

Congratulations on having asked one of the best questions I’ve seen during my time here on Fluther. Some of the answers are very heartfelt and illustrate the deep pain people feel when they don’t always follow the dictates of conscience or heart. Thank you for asking it.

You can relax, Dad. I’ve got it all under control. Thanks!

Please just stay here with me tonight. I can save you if I’m with you.

Even if I could go back, after thinking about this for 22 years, I would not know what to say.

Mann… this is really sad but if you ask me I would say “thank you for everything you’ve done for me and thank you just for being there for me” I would probably say more but it depends on the relationship I have with the person.

This is a heart wrenching question for me, too personal to answer. However the people I’d be referring to died from tragic deaths very quickly. Would I have a chance to change the circumstances that led to their deaths instead in this question?

My dad was one exception dying a slow death from cancer. He was too out of it the last few days of his life. I did tell him I loved him and I never told him that very much and he admitted the same thing to me. I told him we would meet again when my time comes. He passed away with a smile on his face.

@Adirondackwannabe Many thanks, I still miss him :)

I would have told her I was proud to know her and to have had her as my great-grandmother. But please do not beat yourself up for your action decided in a split second. You are a sum of your actions, feelings and experiences. Remember the sum of your time with her not just the final moment. Easier said then done but the best way for you to move forward.