Saving a Life

for Carl, saving a life was very hands-on

holding the gashes on Shea’s wrists shut

while the paramedics rushed

much, much too slowly

to her side

I was tempted to think he must be lying

not because I didn’t believe him

but because I didn’t want

the awful story

to be true

but the misery in his eyes made it clear:

although he too wished it were not true

the dreadful fact was

she attempted to

end her life

he was there

and because he was

she survived another day

and another, and then another

at this point in the story his eyes got brighter

every day

she wanted to die

but chose to live life instead

he helped her to begin to believe

the awful story could (and would) be redeemed

at her side

slowly, but surely

as the scars on her wrists healed

she learned to cling to hope, love, and faith

for Shea, saving a life was very hands-on

***

From the book my heart poured out by Jordan Aspen