life matters.
how dare you even ask? your
body may carry the cure for cancer. the next Picasso. nevertheless:
you want your life to just be yours. even if your
choices hurt. even if someone else wanted
what you’d be willing to destroy?
but listen, sweetheart: can you know
whether the relief weighs more than regret
whether you know in your marrow what “right” feels like
whether you’ll feel the empty gnawing when someone else’s baby cries
You won’t know
or remember our faces when you think of this
You won’t remember the things we said
when you left with the pills in your pocket
we watched you every step of the way
our prayers followed you
even after you got home.
About the Creator
Dane BH
By day, I'm a cog in the nonprofit machine, and poet. By night, I'm a creature of the internet. My soul is a grumpy cat who'd rather be sleeping.
Top Story count: 17
Check out my Vocal Spotlight and my Vocal Podcast!
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
- Runner-Up in Inverse Challenge
Spectating
I can't imagine dying like this, in a place like this; on a cold, dirty pavement with rush hour traffic screaming by and a crowd looking on while paramedics struggle to find space to move. Who could? Deep down we all think there should be a reason, a moment of clarity... or a family presence, at least. For this man, this boy, the rail thin woman lighting a cigarette in a faux fur jacket will have to do - she's been here since the start, her eyes tracking the movement of my shoulders as we fight to keep him on the right side of the line.
By S. A. Crawford6 days ago in Fiction
Comments (2)
Well done, I enjoyed this.
Well written! I love it!🥰