Nine months

Enough for a baby to grow

nine months ago

my baby’s world changed

two months to the day of her sixteenth birthday

a lump by her neck

shattered her life

Nine weeks of chemo

nine weeks of fears

nine weeks of tears

Nine months ago

Time defined by three

three months at a time

to breathe and rejoice

Almost that time again

and the fear returns

She does not share

any of her fears

and will not hear any of mine

not even a mention

the “C” word not allowed

and I remain alone

to think of the whys

Does she consider

how blessed she’s been

does she ever stop

and remember she was not alone

And the time will continue

counted by three

and then it will be longer

the time in-between

until I pray it will only be

a distant memory

and no more fears