admission
'i have cancer.'
the words tossed out so plainly. so practised sounding. the thoughts
rebounding in my mind knew it was simply answered. yet i heard a
question. then i heard an introduction. and at the end i swear i
heard a conclusion.
air liquified.
so i held my breath. my heart now shaded with thoughts of death. and
i sadly realized that he was asking nothing of me, telling nothing to me,
completing nothing for me. he's just saying.
fingers clenched.
there were things to say. and i wanted more time for another
chance at this day. he held his sheets near his face. mapping out
the worst hand he's ever been dealt.
finding pause.
i gripped the bed. dark thoughts were in my head. like skipping stones
on a beach. there were several still in my hand. their cool flatness
begged my expectations to meet his reality. stones don't float.
standing still.
i held his gaze a moment longer. then moved to touch his
shoulder. i leaned forward and crouched down at his knee. i needed to
look up at him. look up to him and he look down to me.
moments passed.
he held his head and rubbed his eyes. and I realized that "how ya doin'?"
wasn't so wise. well intended maybe but missing the point. i was
fighting to focus and focus was fighting back.
reality check.
this was not a visit. not the moment i imagined was it? because
everything about this felt like a warning to expectation and
obligation. everything from now will be 11:08 AM.
and again.
'i have cancer.' he says once more. I sense someone is standing behind
me at the door. his acceptance speech now delivered. he shivered.
and folded himself into my moms arms.
Categories: poetry
My God this is powerful writing. It sends shivers down my back. The pacing, the attempts to find a metaphor to explain, the observation in the midst of stream of consciousness. Wow.
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