Peace

I was 23 the first time I saw Peace.
It was in the faces of a 30-year-old couple,
parents of two,
nearing the end of her battle with breast cancer.
Scanning her chart in the hallway, my heart sank with dread at what sort of room we were about to enter;
as we passed through the doorway, though, I was surprised to see them seated upright together on the side of the bed,
IVs riven like thorns through her shriveled arms,
hand in hand,
eyes together,
giggling breathlessly in the face of disaster.
As we entered, he stood up, apologizing and removing himself to the window-side couch,
but as he sat,
he glanced back at her and smiled,
and as she turned her head to meet his gaze,
her face shone so bright,
radiant in the sunlight falling through the blinds.
The image of that room is forever seared into my memory
not to be forgotten.

Written September 2020

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