The speaker comforted dying men by pretending to be the person they called for in their last moments, even though the friendships only lasted a few seconds. She took on the role of "Mom" for one man and "Marry" for another. Though she wasn't actually those people, she did her best to ease their passing. The speaker wonders how to make these brief but meaningful moments she shared with the dying men understandable to others and unforgettable.