To Someone Who's Dying | Teen Ink

To Someone Who's Dying

September 18, 2015
By simplyinferior GOLD, Ottawa, Illinois
simplyinferior GOLD, Ottawa, Illinois
15 articles 0 photos 23 comments

 Tell me, what are you supposed to say to someone who’s dying

To someone you wish to document everything they said
because they have a preordered gravestone
and timebomb, counting down to their very last breath
Now tell me how to form words
and not tears, as they fester in the back of my swollen throat
when I escape to the bathroom to practice my quivering smile
and carefully cover my language in a sticky sugar coat
Teach me to transform my eyes into lenses
that focus through the blur of tears,
so I can commit every last detail to memory
to keep me company when they are no longer near
Help me to understand their pain…
but everytime I do I can’t stand on my feet
because unlike them, I’m selfish
and far too weak.
Because how am I supposed to be happy and oblivious
when they can feel the weight of every passing day in their crying bones
how am I supposed to make their last days their best
when that’s the drugs’ job as my mom hands me the phone
Just Tell me Tell me Tell. me.
what to say as I’m choking on my words, the very last words I murmur into their ear
on their last day
On the third day I haven’t seen them because they are black and blue
Through the jumble of everything I say
The only thing I manage is I Love You
 



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This article has 1 comment.


on Oct. 8 2015 at 9:39 pm
BreeZephyr SILVER, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
7 articles 0 photos 84 comments

Favorite Quote:
“In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him...it's impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves.” - Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game

Wow. That really hit me hard, especially that last line. Well done. Also, what does the title mean? I'm not sure I understand it (Or was it just a typo?).