I Fell in Love with Hope - Lancali

He cannot contain his joy. He jumps from the rowboat, swimming the
remainder of the way. He trips in the shallows, the mud to his ankles,
yelling their names. He runs up the beach, overcome with rejoicing
laughter.
Coeur hears his voice and turns around. Heaven casts light upon
him till the only shadow that remains is that of Neo jumping into his
arms and kissing him just as he promised.
al your tomorrows
IBEFORE
haven’t seen Sam since the night Henry died. Well, I have seen him.
He reads in his bed most of the day, finishing books as quickly as he
picks them up.
He doesn’t sleep often. When he does, I look at him just a little
longer as I pass his room, wishing I could crawl into the bed and
apologize.
I feel half gone without him, like I’m missing a part of myself.
Without Sam, I follow Nurse Ella. She calls me her shadow. We care
for patients together. Or at least she does. I mostly watch. Babies
and infants, people that have yet to become people, are what bring
me joy. Nurse Ella says I stare at the little creatures too much. I tell
her that once you are her age living is unpleasant and I must enjoy
the pleasure of looking at babies while I still can. Rightfully so, she
smacks the back of my head.
“Is Sam doing alright?” I ask. She scribbles on a sheet of paper. I
have no interest in what. Paperwork in hospitals requires whole
forests for production.
Paperwork is like violence. Overly abundant and often useless.