“I’m out the door, I’ll see you soon…”
A waiting call, that quickly changes tune
“Your son is sick, he needs to be picked up right away”
A quick call to my friend, “This is the last thing you need today”
A worried face, with skin so flushed
How could things progress this much?
A panicked call to mom and dad. Text my ex-husband.
“Can you come? It’s pretty bad.”
Urgent care. Waiting room. Try to push down the fear.
“Do you have the same insurance?” No, we lost it last year.
Come back in a few hours. It’ll probably be okay.
Am I going to die? No, we just have to see what the doctor will say.
Deadlines loom. Fear grows. Stay strong.
It’s already time to go back. “See, it didn’t take long?’
Doctor scratches his head as he surveys all the bumps.
“No fever, no sore throat? It’s thankfully not mumps.”
Let me confer with a specialist, let me call work, let me dry your tears
Let me figure out how to rearrange a life that was curated for years
We don’t know what it is, but he seems mainly okay
Let us know if things get worse, but you can be on your way
Yes, he needs to stay home for a week
And no, he can’t go out
Yes, it might be contagious
But now, that’s all for you to figure out
Goodbyes in the parking lot
And then we’re on our own
Collectively, the two of us start to moan
“Are there any stops you want to make before we’re trapped inside?”
“No, mama… I just want to go home and hide.”
Me too, little one, but there is so much to do.
Thank goodness you have me, and I have you.
Oh, Joelle! As a parent, know these feelings all too well. My wife always says it’s worse as a mother, and I believe her. I can't even imagine the weight sometimes. But, that ending... 🤍