The Path Not Taken

April 13, 2013, her face a dark shade of red.

Shouts echoed across the room,

Oxygen attempting to catch up.

Every exhale came with an insult.

My mouth proceeded its opening motion,

But the heavy wood door stood in a guard’s position,

Splintering my vision and mouth from any retorts.

Empty band-aid boxes littered cracked floors.

April 15, 2013, my hands clapped succinctly.

Her feet pounded against hard concrete cement,

Reaching the checkered black and white line.

Sneakers slipping away sneakily from owner’s feet,

As they tried to catch up in the Boston street.

All too soon excitement filled my stomach.

The deafening ringing booming in my ears,

As her frantic face searched for mine.

April 16, 2013, our anniversary day.

Blaring hospital monitors echoing,

Empty band-aid boxes lined the shelves.

Stark white walls choking sanitized air.

Numbness radiating through my legs,

I frantically spin in my permanent seat.

Lu Lingzi, Martin Richard,

And Sean Collier not as fortunate.

April 21, 2014, yet nothing has improved.

Shouting replaced with her pitiful eyes.

Marathon training on perpetual hold,

Mirroring our “relationship” status.

No more fights stood in our place.

The only thing that didn’t remain,

Where those unspoken eight letters;

“I Love You”