Extended Holiday

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Why can’t she remember?  Why can’t some

Outside, external force prod her to know who he is

The mystery of the mind.

For him, it’s painful to remember how she used to be…..

He remembers her – his sweetheart, his lover, his

friend for life – his wife.

He longs to be near her, to care for her, to be company

For her, even as she blocks him out.

For her, reality takes an extended holiday

Somewhere in his mind

He wonders if it’s his fault.  Maybe it’s because of

the “lack of” in him….

Maybe he didn’t love her like she needed

Maybe his forgetting her when she knew him has

Come back to haunt him……”She doesn’t talk much

Anymore”.

The agonizing consternation in his voice is so

Unnerving.  There’s nothing to say, there’s nothing to

Do – only to occupy the same space day after day.

Never wanting to go too long without the comfort of her nearness,

He awakens each day with the determination to see

Her one more time.

The days revolve around her – maybe today she’ll give

Him a smile.  Maybe today she’ll squeeze his hand

He must be there. wouldn’t want to miss that rare

opportunity to connect even just for a minute.

It’s his job to see about her.  He needs to report back that, yes,

“Lovie is fine today”.  With singleness of mind,

he wheels himself to her room hoping that

Today he can be part of her world or maybe she’ll be part of his.

They used to talk all the time. They used to try to figure

Things out – but now she’s left him on some sort of

Extended holiday.  He doesn’t understand why she

Would do that.

He used to live at home but when she left, he couldn’t

Stand to be without her so he convinced everyone that he

Too, needed to be in that other place – a new home with

Her close by. He knew he couldn’t survive without her…….

He knew he WOULDN’T survive without her.

The days seem all the same, routine – no real change

Except the days when they won’t let him see her – they

Say she’s sick.  He turns away downtrodden, despondent,

Feeling anxious all the same.  He MUST see her.  Lying

Awake at night counting the hours until dawn, a new day,

Maybe today will be the day she’s back from that extended

Holiday. Morning brings hope, a renewed determination….

making his way to her room…..”Don’t worry Lovie, I’m here”