A permanent reminder of you
My hair usually covers it
But when I brush it away, there you are
I remember the day
It was cold and damp
A late fall morning in the back forty collecting wood
You told me what to do
Throwing the wood to my feet
So I could load it in the trunk of the car
You had to split it first
By hand, each piece split by an axe
Each piece then tossed to me
‘Head’s up’
You said you’d call it out each time
And each time you did before it landed at my feet
Until you didn’t
Until it wasn’t wood coming to land at my feet
Until all I saw was that axe
Time paused and froze me
Unable to process what was already in motion
I had nowhere to go
I watched you
Your dead eyes and expressionless face
Waiting…
I hadn’t seen you like this before
Vacant
I was alone with you and I knew I was in trouble
It stunned me
I looked to my feet and there it was
Warm blood began to flow over my face
I yelled at you to take me to the hospital
Hoping this was all just a mistake
You didn’t move, you just stood there and watched
Waiting…
I screamed at you to take me to the hospital and got in the car
I was sick to my stomach while the blood kept pouring
You were there but you were gone
And we were so far away from anyone else
I kept screaming at you until you realized I wasn’t going to lay down and die
Until you took me to the hospital and told me to lie
Or else…
Twenty-two stitches
A permanent reminder
Of you…
