Flatliner Poem by Diana Holinski

I could have sat keeping vigil at the bedside indefinitely,
Holding the metaphorical hand of this friendship,
And lovingly stroking its forehead,
Willing it to come out of the coma,
All the while looking at the EEG monitor
And seeing no activity.

Until the hospital chaplain comes in
And leads me away,
Trying to get me to see reality....

But then when we're together,
Laughing and talking
And you rest your head against mine
And you stroke my thigh
With the mesmerizing touch of your hand,
And I look into those dark blue beautiful eyes,
I think I see the flicker of life
Under the closed lids of this languishing friendship.
And my hope flares up like a flame
With just a couple drops of kerosene flicked onto it.
And then you come with your bucket of water.
'I will never love you.'
And I see it flatline....