surprise
Biting cold floors on bare feet,
the smell of plastic bags,
pushpin skin for an IV drip,
over and over and over.
My life upended.
Finding a place for myself
in a world that suddenly feels
so foreign, so new.
How had I ever lived
in it before?
Was it always this painful?
This frightening?
“How do I do this?”
I ask everyone, anyone.
“I can’t do this,”
I tell my husband, at least twice a day.
“I think I’ll do it anyway,”
I tell myself, swollen belly cradled
in my hands.
2 thoughts on "surprise"
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Wow, Autumn! I think your withholding of key information till near the end is very smart in this case. You say just enough.
Nicely written. You’ve captured the hopeful fear of so many mothers in a very honest and engaging way.