Decisions Poem by David Normand

You think you're doing the right thing.
You buy the time that may save your life.
You move your wife away from her friends,
And farther away from your children.
To lessen your commutes,
to be closer to your work.
To be closer to nature.

Every day you see the beauty of nature all around you,
but, at times, you hear
the loneliness in your wife's voice
and heart.

Then, the text from her friend.

One of the friends we dined with,
chatted with, partied with.
The one who lost her sister to cancer.

Then, the text from her friend.

'I start chemo next week.'

And there is nothing you can say.

Another eight months later…

After phone calls; lunches,
trying to get together;
trying to spend time together;
trying to be a friend.

My wife gets a text. The doctor has spoken.

'Go and do what you have always wanted to do. Now is the time.'

The reply as to what she always wanted to do:

'I want to live.'

And there is nothing you can say.