and a year of doctors, chemotherapy, radiation, pills, needles, hope
and hopelessness
it was little more than a kiss at the end of the day
a sleepy-headed, halfhearted peck on the lips
as slumber and the night swept us away
until the chime of the six o’clock alarm
But now, nothing is insignificant
not the breaths you take
nor the beats your heart struggles to make
not the blink of your eye or the nod of your head
And especially
not the kiss
No longer halfhearted
no longer a motion made without thought or regard
Each kiss is now a gift
a treasure at the end of a day
I wasn't certain we would share
