I’m led to her bedside
blindfold of innocence hung on the hospital room’s door
She lies there
oxygen mask pulling skin tight as she croaks for air
like a fish out of water
desperately crying for life
Her vacant glassy eyes happen to rest on the open window
looking at the grass she will never set foot on again

For the first time in my life
I am absolutely terrified
Death is slamming me to the floor
making me so numb I can’t even feel the reaper
blow past my shoulder

The dull flat line snaps me to reality

The room falls away
“Ave Maria” still rings in my ears
Clutching my coat tighter
as the first snow of the season falls onto her
casket
Blanketing our
black clothes
black pavement
black death that hangs in the air