emergency vet

the hum of the computer

under the glare of overhead fluorescents

& the clinical smell of antiseptic

i hold you close, holding back

the racking sobs that threaten

to break through the room’s quiet

there’s laughter from down the hallway

& why not? our grief

isn’t theirs to share

i try my best to say goodbye

to say i’m sorry

to say anything at all to make it all ok

but words fail me

falling flat

as the world begins to unravel

so i hold you closer still & think

you start to purr, but i can’t hear over

the hum of the computer