The lights are always on inside this building
The parking lot is never empty here.
Other white coats walk from room to room
Spreading their state-mandated cheer.
A baby screams out his first cry
Somewhere in the opposite wing:
New life and hope being born,
As I hook her up to a machine.
She fakes a smile when she looks at me,
But all hope escapes her eyes.
She puts the effort, but cannot fool
Despite how hard she tries.
She pushes forth a laugh, chokes on tears,
"Two more months," she says to me.
I feel my heart drop down to my toes:
"Let's not talk about such things."
Then past my boundaries, risking my job
I lean forth and kiss her smooth head.
I shake off the moment with a quick, distracting
"Here, let me change the sheets from your bed."
As I leave her room and walk out the door
Into the bleach and the blinding, bright lights,
I turn back to see her by the window
Just staring out into the night.
Every night she stands in silence,
Stares at the void, the stars, the moon.
But tonight I hear her whisper words:
"I guess I will be with you soon."