You don’t know what to do –
when your days have been
defined by visiting hours and
your thoughts consumed by
the care of her – of getting
drinks and food and worrying –
and suddenly all that’s gone.
Suddenly her soft salt-and-pepper
hair is no longer there for you
to touch. She no longer needs
you to call the nurse.
Your thoughts are no longer
consumed by numbers on
screens or the colour of her
water or how warm she is. And
then you have to begin to try
to remember what else there
is besides that small room
into which you poured
so much of your love.
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