A Break in Houston

I am in Houston — first time in four years. I haven’t visited Houston frequently since college. Yet, every visit I had has reminded me, without fail, one particular visit I had thirteen years ago.

It was March 20th, thirteen years ago today.

I used my spring break to visit my mom. She was at the end stage of her cancer. A couple of days after I arrived, she fell into a coma from which she never woke up.

To help cope with my loss in the ensuing months, I wrote a few poems. I was reminded of one of them today.

TWO

You visited me last night
not suffering this time
healthy, vibrant
just as I remembered

You smiled at the family
portrait framed firmly
sitting on the nightstand
The three of us, complete

But, I forgot to ask
“Do you ever dream of me?”
before you left
again