Love Story

Love Story

got it all wrong.

There’s nothing romantic about cancer

It’s hideous and hateful

ugly and mean.

Not satisfied to consume only its’ victims

it devours the hearts and souls

of everyone who loves them.

There is nothing romantic

about kissing your partner goodnight

before walking across a hospital parking lot

when you should be holding her in your arms

poking her when she snores.

There is nothing romantic

about watching her children

wrestle with questions

to which there are no answers

Or watching a daughter

mother her mother

when the one person

she needs

most

is her mother

Or telling her grandchildren

you can’t sit on “gammy’s” lap

because it hurts her

There is nothing romantic about

watching her struggle

Struggle to breathe

Struggle to eat

Struggle to sit up or lie down or hold on

There is nothing romantic about cancer

Love Story

got it all wrong.       

  ~Shari Heath~