Suddenly in the room, which had otherwise been quiet and still
But for the noises to which we had become immune,
Without warning there came a rush of wind and wildness.
It lifted the hair on my arms, neck and head.
And blasted the calm with perfect inner storms.
Everyone became confused and afraid.
Dad yelled over the urgency to brace down,
“We need a nurse. Something’s happening!”
He shouted over the gusts of a quickened breath
“What’s happening?”
My sister and I dug our feet more firmly into the ground.
We braced ourselves. Hands-in-hands, our fingers tightened.
Our eyes met. We didn’t know.
We just held on to her and to each other.
My mother held onto my father.
And her rapidly panting breath lifted and spun our souls
Like tidal waves crashing into our collective consciousness.
Was this it??
This was it.
The final devastating collapse.
The twisting, spinning ether, as quickly as it rose,
It fell. It became more than still.
there was no breath, the moment froze.
Gripping all that was left, no one moved.
Silence, yet eyes and hearts were screaming.
Our most perfect home, our safest place was gone.
Dad breathed in and time resumed ticking.
“Call Dziadzi.” And the energy picked up.
It brought in the heavy rains and our faces flooded.
I stayed still. Her hand in mine. Fading warmth.
Ebbing away like thunder clouds thinning, breaking-up to slowly disappear.
Still, I sat with that precious, final sensation.
And I thought of the bright light and eternal peace
She might experience on a new shore of existence.
And it brought me a little sunshine.
by Sarah K Greco, March 2020