Three Words

Cocoon of linen

My protection

And contentment

Gently broken

By summer’s

Early morning

Kiss.

——

Laying still

Breathing lightly

Awaiting

Another day’s

Opportunities.

——

Phone rings

Smile spreads

As I see

My sister’s name.

“Hey! This must be

Important

Since you’re calling this…”

“E,

STOP

and

LISTEN!”

Her tone

Immediately dismissing

All levity.

——

Then,

Those soul-shattering words,

“HEART ATTACK”

——

Dressed within minutes

And bolting down the hall,

I catch B somewhat off guard

And leave little time

For him to respond.

“Need your car…

Heart attack…my mom…

Have to go…

I love you…I’ll call you.”

“Go! I love you.”

——

Frantically,

Passing one car

After another

Trying to shorten

The forty minute drive.

An audible plea

My only companion

“Please don’t die!

You can’t die!”

——

Cursing every red light

From highway

To hospital,

My mind unwilling

To concede

Any inevitability.

——

Nearly sprinting

Through the ER doors

And speaking before

Reaching the desk,

“Um, my mom…

She’s here…Patty ____”

“You can go back, sweetie.

Your family’s there.”

——

So dissimilar

To TV portrayals,

The ER is

Eerily quiet.

Approaching the room,

My aunts

Come into view

And then,

My sisters,

Anguish painted

Across everyone’s faces.

——

But

No

Mom.

——

Realization setting in,

Emotions rising

Tears streaming

Body shaking

Mind denying

——

Three words

Is all it took

To devastate

My world.

——

“E, Mom’s gone.”