Alone

By Ruth Rin

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That day, I was crushed when my email I read,

And learned of the death of my high-school friend.

All those years, Sarah and I had stayed connected

After to England she had relocated.

 

Her daughter was the bearer of the bitter news;

I joined mourners on video for funeral views.

Losing aging friends is built-in life grief,

But this brings no consolation, nor relief.

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Contemplating the advancing years,

Thinking rationally, not yielding to fears,

Adapting to new reality takes creativity,

Accommodating days of lesser agility.

 

A possible fall adds a hazard dimension,

Removing all hurdles offers prevention.

Do I replace the tub with a shower,

Keep only items that benefit and empower?

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After the funeral, lost in sad thought,

I carried in groceries that I had bought.

Step by step, I lifted and ascended

Each bag, in turn, I conveyed and tended.

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But oh! Just as I reached for the last bag to lift,

The door slammed on my foot, and shaken, I slipped!

I yelled out in pain, but no one heard,

As searing sensations shot through my leg,

 

I crawled to the freezer for an ice-pack to grab.

Wrapped my sore ankle – to ease the stab.

Musing how a split-second of lost concentration

Can cause severe harm of long duration.

 

Afraid to bear weight on that foot, I sit.

I phone friends and daughter, the moments flit.

No answers -- Messages for them I record,

Ways to help myself must be explored.

 

In desperation, nine-one-one I dial

Ambulance wailing, paramedics rank and file.

They examine my leg – I’m in pain and in fear,

“No broken bones” – Music to my ears!

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Being alone at a time of distress

Brings unsettling feelings, I must confess.

But shortly thereafter, my phone resounds,

As friends and family to my voice-mails respond.

 

My daughter’s visit cheers me immensely!

Reaffirming belonging and love as family!

A neighbor of few contacts past,

When hearing my message, stopped by, unasked.

 

As I lay in bed, iced foot elevated,

A thought emerged, seldom stated:

Balancing the perception of aloneness,

We are uplifted by people's goodness.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Ruth Rin

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