Turn and Face the Stranger
by Desert Songbird of The Ice Box.
She married her soul mate February 28, 1985.
She cried over the body of mother March 3, 1985.
She pried the gun out of her soul mate’s hand September 1985.
Her soul mate walked out on her December 12, 1986.
She clasped the hand of her father December 25, 1986 as he lay dying.
Too many changes, too little time. Defeated. Closed and withdrawn, she retreated.
Slowly, ever so slowly she emerged from her cocoon, poking her head out occasionally to test the waters. Timid. Fearful.
A few years passed. She met a nice man - a steady, smart, and funny companion. They married, settled down, had kids. Cute, funny, smart kids. Healthy kids. Things stayed the same for a long while. She grew content.
July 13, 2005, they told her it would kill her – an incurable disease. “Take your medicine and hope for the best.”
She smiled wryly. “Just another change,” she thought.
No cocoon for her this time. No hiding, no fear. Look the monster in the face.
And laugh.
Desert Songbird lives in the American Southwest desert with her steady, smart, and funny husband and her two cute, funny, smart kids. Life’s flavors, changes, and challenges are pondered at The Ice Box.
3 comments:
Powerful, frightening and thought provoking.
One wants to ask questions like "is this true", "are you referring to yourself", "what disease" but one doesn't want to seem rude or nosy so one just reads and moves on, coming back again to re-read and check "Did I get that right?"
If I did and you are indeed unwell, I deeply hope that they are wrong and that there will be a cure.
Wonderful post. Thank you.
A troubling story. Honest, spare and raw. Melancholy, yet defiant. Resigned, yet strong. Strength comes, I guess, even when we think we are out of it.
Thanks for sharing.
It is, indeed, a true, autobiographical story. One can only hope for a cure - my family prays for it every day.
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