POEM
Hospital Recovery
Purpose Brings Life
Seth rested on a hospital bed.
On some dark days, the pain
hit worse than on other bright days.
The dim ceiling lights bounced
off the beige walls with framed
art splashing an array of colors
fixed for a homely vibe.
Nurses scribbled his thoughts on notepads.
She fit a gadget around his arm
and pumped a muffled swish
to gather his blood pressure.
Nurses and doctors chatted amongst themselves.
Overhead speakers called for trauma
nurses.
The sun scaled the horizon,
but thick, dark clouds
shrouded its rays for the day.
Seth looked out the window
and saw people driving, walking
over swaths of gold and red leaves,
sipping lattes,
and living life as the summer faded.
He wished he could tell them
how lucky they are.
A girl, Olivia, rests on the other side
of the patrician.
They’d talk off and on,
mostly small talk.
But the connection drove long talks
about death and what it meant
to be alive.
Seth laughed at Olivia’s dark humor.
When the nurses ushered visitors
through the lobby,
and the lights turned off,
they’d shed their innocence
and spill their sins as though
as though they alone, among
the priests could ask God to forgive.
The cancer racing through his veins
felt like God’s punishment
for what, he didn’t know.
Olivia told him she grew up in a wealthy home.
Seth wanted to know more
about what it must be like to have no needs.
“It’s not all that it’s cracked up to be,” Olivia said.
“I’d give anything to have that life.”
“Be careful what you wish for.”
“If there’s something you want to say…”
“What do you care?” Olivia shouted in a whisper.
“Okay, we can talk about something else.”
“That was rude,” Olivia said, her voice spreading tears.
“I get it,” Seth said.
“But that’s just it,” she said. “You don’t get it.”
“I’ve never heard you this upset,” he said.
A nurse did her rounds and shielded her eyes.
She peered into their room
and moved her eyes around.
“My dad…”
“The mayor?”
Oliva sighed. “The mayor, yes.”
“What about him?”
“He has secrets.”
“Ahh, a corrupt politician.”
“If only that were the case.”
Seth narrowed his eyes,
pulling away thoughts he hoped had no merit.
“Aren’t you going to ask?” Olivia said.
“Do I want to know?”
Olivia rolled her green eyes. “Probably not, but you’re going to hear it, anyway.”
“Spill away.” Seth raked his fingers through his thin, dark hair.
“I was a girl, and he’d do bad things to me,” Olivia said.
Seth paused to collect his thoughts. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
Olivia sniffled and brushed away tears with a tissue.
“I don’t need to know this.” He popped a lorazepam.
“I’m not telling you this for no reason.”
“Look, dude, I’m not a counselor.”
“You lived in a foster home, right?”
Seth arched a brow. “Who are you?”
“Your biological mom is Lucy, right?”
Seth pushed himself upright. “Go on.”
“She married my foster father.”
“How do you know this?”
“We’ve been here for months, and I had a private investigator do some digging.”
“I don’t know whether to be livid or flattered.”
“Be both,” Olivia said. “I like you, and I hope you pull through.”
“What about you?” Seth said.
“A doctor told me that the cancer had left.”
“Congratulations,” Seth said, less than celebratory.
Dreams of a first kiss,
would I miss it for the world?
Olivia’s his dream,
and she’s in the same hospital.
Seth grew up in foster homes,
and shame crept into his insecurity.
But nothing, without a doubt,
would let him regret his self-doubt.
Seth dwelled on his reality
with a tired head — full of crushed rocks.
A soft pillow softened the blow.
He washed his fears with her tears
and softened his tense lips with their first kiss,
kissing, she loves him to death.
Too lonely to die.
Too brave to die.
Too cowardly to live.
Too loving to forgive.
Thankfully, Olivia helped him pull through.
The hospital discharged Seth, and Oliva waited
outside for him.
Olivia had her long, red hair wrapped around her neck and jeans that hugged her hips with an autumn sweater.
Seth moved through the hospital doors with her
and lived together, knowing everything about each other.
Their married life and kids of their own blessed them with purpose.
(© 2024 AC)
Other great posts at Readers Hope.
