what do u tell a middle aged woman
with the wrinkles and creases on her face
full of hopes and love for her son-in-law
when she expresses her angst at losing her only son
what do u tell her?

what do u tell a young woman
with the responsiblity of the world all on her shoulders
with two young children to bring up
to be a mother, a father and both
what do u tell her?

what do u tell two young boys
with big innocent eyes and voices hiding the pain
no longer seeing the familiar loving figure who buys them their gameboys
with their ignorant friends taunting them about the loss of their father
what do u tell them?

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

have u ever called home
and you had to announce the very words
which made ur eyes filled wiht big pearls of tears
and threatened to choke ur words
to let ur family members know

u have to rush here
he cant make it anymore

have u ever stayed by a hospital bed
looking forlornly and helplessly
at a familiar figure lying on the bed with drips stuck all over
and the constant sound of the monitor keeps u going
and u dare not sleep for fear of missing anything?

beep... beep...beep...
beep.beep.beeeeeep!

have u ever held ur dear one's hands
and had to say the most painful goodbye
seeing the life totally drained from his body
and seeing him in peace yet it breaks ur heart
and u just have to be brave and blink away the tears?

have you?

i have. twice.