“You left college,
forfeited your marriage,
your friends,
and your life…
and your life…
to care for me.”
Damn tears!
Cancer sucks!
Mama pleaded,
grasping my hand.
“Promise me...
to live life,
chase dreams,
chase dreams,
love.
Experience everything...”
Experience everything...”
Sighing,
she relaxed and welcomed eternity with grace.
Sigh. That's a tough one, Kathy. Nobody should have to lose someone that they love to a dreaded disease. Nothing we do seems enough to save them :( Poignant last line there.
ReplyDeleteShailaja, it is very true. It seems that all the chemo and treatments they receive only prolong the inevitable. It doesn't wipe the cancer out unless it is contained and they can just cut it out. It is sad. Thanks so much for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments! ♥
Delete...
ReplyDeleteHold on, let me get out from behind my tissue.
So sweet and so sad.
Crystal, I am so pleased you liked it! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteDo we mourn for the loss or rejoice taht she is free from pain! The pain of losing somebody dear will never fade away
ReplyDeleteMina, I think it is mixed. We can be consoled in the fact that they are now pain free, and still be utterly gutted that they are gone. Thanks so much for stopping by to read my story and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteThere is never enough time. Poignant.
ReplyDeleteAnn, no there isn't! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your comments! I am so pleased you liked my story! ♥
DeleteWell done my friend! Can always count on you to say the most with the fewest words!
ReplyDeleteJoe, and if it weren't for you, I would never know if the meaning I wanted was coming across. Thank you for being my writing buddy. I really appreciate your input! Thanks for stopping by to read and comment too! ♥
DeleteNicely done and I know you speak from experience.
ReplyDeleteJoJo, I am so pleased you liked it! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteCancer can creep up on anyone, have to live life while we can
ReplyDeletePat, very true. I don't think people really realize that until they have had someone close to them have cancer, go through it, and die from it. Thanks so much for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments! ♥
Delete:(
ReplyDeletehugs!!
This was so sad and beautiful. you write so well Kathy! <3
pixie, thank you so much for stopping by to read and for your lovely comments of encouragement! I am so pleased you liked it! ♥
DeleteBeautiful and that's what mamas do. Love it and you.
ReplyDeleteJo, thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥ I am so pleased you liked it!
DeleteAnd I hope she does live carefree and chase dreams.. like mama said. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteRajlakshmi, she should...one only gets one go around at life. Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteCancer does indeed suck. live life. Keep the promise.
ReplyDeleteGlen, well said! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your lovely comments! ♥
Delete:( sad! But so well written. Loved it Kathy!
ReplyDeleteParul, I am so pleased you liked it! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteOh, Kathy, I wish this would happen in the future. I'd so like me and my man to welcome the peace of our last breath.
ReplyDeleteFrancene, it seems a lot more inviting than the stress of everyday sometimes. Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteThus post has such an important message for personal growth and peace. Superb:)
ReplyDeletevishal, I am so pleased you liked it! Thanks so much for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteThis hurts. I actually lost my mother to cancer some years back and this just brings up too many unwanted memories.
ReplyDeleteRobert, I know exactly what you mean. I have been down that road, and you never really stop missing them. Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteBeautiful sentiment here, Kathy. I love the last line especially ("...and welcomed eternity with grace."). Just a thought: I don't know that this needed to be structured as a poem. It's a great little microstory, but the format (IMO) almost works against it.
ReplyDeleteChristine, you know, I feel really stupid now! I am so glad you pointed that out to me because honestly I thought spacing it out that way emphasized the pause in the dialogue. It never even occurred to me that it would be misconstrued to be a poem! UGH! In future, I will avoid doing what looks pretty, and go with putting it in paragraph form. Thank you for the tip and for the praise. One of these days maybe I will write something really worthy and end up at the top of the heap at Yeah Write! Practice makes it better, if not perfect. Thank you so much for stopping by to read and for all your lovely comments! It really means an awful lot. ♥
DeleteUff! That's a tough one - losing a loved one to the Big C.
ReplyDeleteBut you've put it so well, Kathy. Can relate to it, because I lost my grandpa to cancer
Sid, I lost my mom to cancer, so this little story has a bit of reflection in it from what I experienced. It was hard being a cheerleader, taking care of her...giving her encouragement to cope with the pain that kept her up all hours screaming even when taking morphine. I guess that is why her death hit me so hard, I had convinced myself she couldn't die and cancer couldn't and wouldn't win. I learned a hard fact of life then...cancer always wins eventually. Just the way life is. Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comments!
DeleteLife is never the same after cancer in the family.
ReplyDeleteD Biswas, it sure isn't. Cancer changes everything. Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteAs a cancer survivor I can tell you first hand... CANCER FUCKING SUCKS!!!! Great lit'l piece Kathy, I'm so happy I didn't make it to that last line..
ReplyDeleteAngel Stew, I am so glad you didn't too! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteThis was so emotional. I've not experienced this situation but can imagine it's difficult to find peace in it until long after the fact.
ReplyDeletejannatwrites, it takes a long time to find peace. In my own experience, it takes years, decades even. Even then on certain days, the emotions and pain rushes back as if it happened yesterday. Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteVery moving to read Kathy dear... beautiful and sad at the same time..
ReplyDeleteEli, I am so pleased you liked it! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteSo thought evoking. Thanks for this beautiful piece.
ReplyDeleteNas, you are very welcome! Thanks so much for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments! ♥
DeleteThe story is poignant. But am glad that the mom was taken care and nursed by her daughter and was not abandoned.
ReplyDeleteAjay, it is the choice I made and I have never regretted it once. I was glad I was there for her. Thanks so much for stopping by to read and for your sweet comments! ♥
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