when sickness came

na.

bet on what s/he thought would be

a “sure thing”

(sure, s/he wouldn’t admit to

him/herself that there wasn’t such

a thing as a “sure thing,” but s/he

liked to play pretend with the best of

em’)&

those first years were just like

everybody spoke of,

they learned about each other,

they saved & had a child &

in that child they invested time &

emotion---

the kid began to grow &

the family seemed so perfect

until

sickness

came.

 

couldn’t put a finger on it

even if s/he tried, but there was a

change in the significant other,

there was an inexplicable change---

came on like a calming wind in the

middle of a Summer’s day &

yet began to burn quickly

like a fire whose embers would grow

& not fade.

 

when sickness came, s/he couldn’t explain

just what it was that s/he was thinking,

but his/her significant other wanted answers

& it only provoked the situation---

didn’t ask the right questions to begin with,

didn’t think about the genes,

didn’t think about what s/he was becoming,

didn’t think about where it all would leave.

 

left with the kid, was all that s/he could do,

because said significant other was spinning

out of control,

where blood did spurt from him/herself &

others, tearing up the world around him/her,

going down with the ship &

no one saw it coming,

no one had any idea that such a sweet

person had such torment on

speed dial,

nobody new how to deal with it until

it was too late &

everyone still living

suffered,

after sickness came.