I’d been awake for far too long,
I knew,
my bones — they ached.

I wandered through the dark alone,
then saw a house take shape.

Three lights were on,
like I could knock,
and simply say ‘hello’.

But when I did,
my mother answered!
said “where did you go!?”

Her voice was lost,
her face was gaunt,
her eyes, they welled and shined.

I said “I’ve just been for a walk…”
that’s when she hugged me tight.

We rocked in two,
like time had stopped.
— as two frayed little knots.

I wondered why her heart beat so.
Why everything felt lost.

Then she said “stop,”
and “think real hard,”
her eyes had turned to fraught.

I smiled and said “can I come in?”
She frowned “absolutely not!”

“You turn around right now, young man!
It’s simply not your time.

I’ll hold you when its meant to be,
till’ then — open your eyes.”

And when I did, 
the room was bright.
—something in it beeped.

I wiggled at my fingers,
then the toes on both my feet.

Dad’s arms came and wrapped me up,
yelled “he’s awake!” through cries.


I just hung onto my mother’s words,
from there, the other side.