Mai To December

She is there but not there

they are still her lungs that breathe

it is still her heart that beats

still her eyes that sometimes twinkle

her voice is a dry gasp

she is there

she is not there

my father enters her room

he knows that she is not the same

he is worried that she will no longer recognise him

it is worse than that

he enters her room and she looks at him

she cannot speak

he sees that she is terrified

her heart quickens

his heart breaks

the days that have gone before

good days

he understands

finally

that they are not coming back