It Will Be Ok

The days dragged on as if we were permanently in the dog days of summer,

But we were graduating soon and had everything lined up.

Classes got easier and everyone could tell there was no reason left to stress

All we had to do was hang in there and remind ourselves,

It’ll be ok

 

As one of the final days approaches,

A call from my brother came through

And told me of a minor incident and that I should head home.

My dad got a scratch while on a motorcycle,

I think to myself, just a scratch?

Surely it’ll be ok

 

I walk into the house as and set the pickup food down,

There was no rush for a minor incident.

I hear I loud moan and crash and wonder what my dad is moving upstairs,

Only to soon learn it was himself.

He was cold like a midnight in a horror movie

And he was struggling to breathe.

Whats wrong? Whats wrong?!

Nothing son, really, it’ll be ok.

 

Assured, repeatedly but not internally, I go to my room.

He says he will sleep it off and we should not worry.

HELP

I hear the yell from the noise of him hitting the floor again.

He cannot move. He cannot breathe.

10 months go by and the ambulance shows up.

We have him stable and can transport him to the hospital,

Don’t worry kiddo, it will be ok.

 

Halfway through following the lights went on

Flashing and sirens filled my ears as we begin racing to the hospital,

The fervent pace was wrong I could tell.

I am not allowed in, I must wait for another year.

I hear my name called and stumble to a small room,

Your dad is in critical condition, his scratch may leave him dead.

Scratch? Collapsed lung.

Scratch? 15 Broken Ribs.

Scratch? Ruptured spleen.

Scratch? Fluid in his remaining lung and here is the waiver

Sign this so we can operate quickly.

Don’t worry patient’s son,

It will be ok.

 

The rest of the night I was at least kept company,

The company of hurt, thoughts, and loneliness.

One parent gone, another being taken.

No money to afford the trip there, let alone the reason for visit.

My life just as his,

Both ending that night but only one having to stick around for it.

My friend shows up,

Hey buddy, it will be ok.

 

Surely there were not talking to me.

It could not be ok

Orphaned by a scratch was not something I could come to bear

And while we discussed the ways in which I could or could not be ok

A man approached

And said

Your dad, he will be ok.

 

The run down was a bleak as the feeling in my gut.

5, no.. 2 more minutes and he would be gone.

The gift of his presence slowly fading

To the impeding future we both see before the guests do.

He cannot leave for months,

He cannot work for months,

I cannot live for months.

We cannot afford these months.

But somehow, someone is always telling me

It will be ok.

 

As the time goes on, and the support floods in

The water floods out, my eyes a new waterpark.

So touched, in awe, the people who care for me, the entire community

All wanting to help.

The darkest hole in my life gave birth to the brightest light.

It will be ok.

 

The times got hard, but they never really were easy.

But I was blessed

With the new ability

To see the things I couldn’t before.

Becoming so independent, at such a young age.

Becoming overwhelmed with love, from people I didn’t know knew me.

Becoming a person with solutions, no longer just problems.

The road was gravel and pot holes, and to this day I’m still looking for a map

To find a way out,

But at least now I know for certain,

It WILL be ok.