Day 1,111

The hospital has no power. None.
How will your child
have his treatment now?
Will the cells that could kill him
outdistance the ones
that could keep him alive?
How much time does he have left
for this race? His skinny body.
His body that never has enough
food, enough water, enough
blankets to keep him warm
in the tent on chilly nights.
If the hospital were able
to do what it should. If
the quickly dividing cells
could be chased from his blood,
could be defeated
by good cells. If your child’s blood
were strong enough
to consume the bad cells
on its own … All
these thoughts
run through your mind
as you carry him back
to the tent. He’s too tired
to walk, too weak
even to notice the tears
streaming down your face.