The Battle Rages On
For Lois
The fear behind her eyes
Our bodies’ embrace,
The arms cling tight
The salty fluid roll down her hardened face
And make a home on my shoulder
My arms close tighter
My vision begins to blur
My checks run black as the cool liquid runs down
The suffering, I can’t imagine.
I feel pain, my heart aches,
And yet, I don’t know why.
The whisper in her ear
I can barely hear it
Where is it coming from?
It sounds so familiar
Realization
My mouth is moving
That sound is coming from me.
I’m praying
What am I saying?
Nothing.
My lips speak the words of God
My mind can’t make sense
And my ears can’t understand
The street goes silent
The world turns black
A comforting warmth covers our embraced bodies
For a brief moment, peace is felt.
The sufferings and the pain forgotten.
Bowing before Christ,
The spirit comforts us.
Time forgotten,
Hurt forgotten,
Peace is found.
All of the sudden, loud sounds ring in my ears.
The cool, crisp air is felt on my damp cheek.
Transported back to a world of suffering.
No.
I cling tighter,
I want to go back.
She clings tighter,
She too wants to go back.
It finally registers,
Someone is speaking.
My eyes open
There it is
Back to the world of sin.
Something’s different.
The voice grows louder
He says its time to move on.
I loosen my grip,
Afraid to let go
She moves away
Alone in the world
Cold
Hungry
Frightened
I look
Her face not as hard,
Her eyes layered of water.
Wait,
Not yet,
One last embrace
The warmth so brief
The voice calling her name.
She says something
What was it?
It didn’t register.
I smile, trying to hear those words
I say something back
Wait, what did I say?
She turns her back
One last look over her shoulder.
I stand there
I took a piece of her pain,
I feel it,
I will keep it.
She rounds the corner
I take a last look of the woman,
Full of hurt.
I pray a simple prayer,
“Jesus, be with her.
Let her continue to feel you as the battle rages on.”
