Sat at the steps

Listening in

Dad called the vet

Set an appointment

I’ll never forget

When I said goodbye

Kissing her head

And cold fluorescent lights

I don’t remember

The words in between

I blacked out from “cancer”

Till “chemotherapy”

One thing that stayed

In the back of my mind:

Hot hospital coffee

And cold fluorescent lights

The words won’t come to her

Like they’ve evaded her mind

Dixie-cup drugs

To treat “end of life”

I think she understands

She doesn’t act surprised

Requesting final wishes

In cold fluorescent lights