Just a few old memories revisited

Forever

The doctor came by and spoke the words
To her that his eyes already told me two
weeks before

With great delicacy
she picked those words apart
choosing to keep
only the most palatable

Sitting in the corner of her room
I watched her as she bent
her head over the hospital tray
feet dangling over the edge of the bed

She labored over her checkbook
Making sure her accounts were in order
Soft white hair, newly regrown, curled
at the nape of her neck

She worked so intently
I remembered as I watched her swollen fingers

How cool they felt once, as a child,
on my feverish skin
I wanted to keep this image of her forever
But I don’t know anymore, what forever is