Hospital Chairs

I have gotten very good

At sleeping

On hospital chairs

Hotel floors

In cars that are not mine

Backseat slumps

Streets I do not know

Waiting patiently

Carefully

Watching and wanting to assist

For a moment of not feeling helpless

I have gotten very good

At brushing teeth

Braiding hair

In mirrors I’ve never watched

Seeing the same art

On every wall

Even the bright colors

Fail to make us forget

Or offset the feelings of disbelief

I have gotten very good

At accepting

That the ones I trusted

To always be there

Are breaking their promises

The ones that said

They’d never worry me

Lied

The ones I have not seen daylight without

Will soon sleep forever

And I will face that daylight alone

I have gotten very good

At knowing

That holidays will no longer be cheerful

But rather a reminder of our loss

Dinners will be sparse

Family bonds thinned

Traditions demolished

And I will have to endure the pain

Of watching others

In pain

Myself having to be

A silent rock

For all to sit and take a breath

Even when they do not know I am there

Or appreciate

That I turn off my tears

And feel the responsibility

Of the truth