Interrupted

By: Lindsey Thomas

Louisiana State University, Class of 2012

He ambles toward the door

A picture of lazy confidence

Until you see his troubled eyes—

Kaleidascope images fenced.

I can’t seem to speak,

To swallow that selfish pride,

To tell him to STOP! WAIT!

We both bottle our hurt inside

Then: A phone call, a gasp,

Everything blurs,

Can’t move fast enough,

At only myself I curse.

Wringing hands, fervent prayers,

I shouldn’t have let him go!

Curves and bridges and curves,

Ice, sleet and snow…

Smell of sterile, of fear,

I can’t seem to stop the cold;

A muted television,

Stare blindly at magazines old

Why are they smiling?!

Don’t they know??

Why will the world not stop

Or even slow?

Minutes are years,

Every footstep is a drumbeat

Then the white coat enters—

We all rise from our seats.

There’s no need to speak

His red-rimmed eyes tell

Please, please wake me!

If it’s not a dream, it’s hell

Send me away, I won’t even breathe

Until he smiles again

Beauty is sarcasm, all colors gray

Without my love, my best friend

Every song, every scene

Memories crumple my soul

Maybe (just maybe) if I lay still long enough,

I will fade out, wake in his arms,

And again be whole.

2010