When the Time Comes

I cry myself to sleep, torn as I wonder if tomorrow will be the day, The day that he leaves us and his suffering behind I cringe at the unimaginable pain he feels, as his own body betrays him But I ache at the thought of him leaving me and my loved ones so soon, too soon I wait expectantly, as days drag on to months My heart aching for not only him, but those he loves But pain worse than expected prevails when the moment comes My breath catches when I hear the voice on the other end, desperate to save me Save me form the unbearable pain of loss, a loss one can never prepare for Everything fades into the background, as the truth hits Sobs escape, my body crumples, as I accept that the time has come The comforting arms of a mother embrace me, encouraging me to release the ever building pain The pain she too feels, when her big brother says good-bye The clichés of those without words sting, as we grasp each other and walk toward him The one who is no longer our love, but just a shell of the man we loved The man taken to be an angel Lies before us Quiet settles over the Earth as we mourn a loved one, A father, a brother, an uncle, a friend---never forgotten.