Subarachnoid Haemorrhage

Image: Uzengia Alexander Nedic

A lightening strike? 

A thunderclap? 

Pain exquisite

he stumbles

at the shock of it,

falls,

tumbles down

the grassy bank,

comes to a stop. 

Tries

to make sense of it,

looks for a storm,

a fallen branch,

feels head and neck

for gaping wound,

for blood,

finds none of it

He stands,

great toe tingles,

stands erect. 

Confused

he undresses (bottom half),

tries to press down toe

with other foot. 

None of it. 

It stands erect. 

He falls again

(the shock of it)

arms headlock

as if to quell

the pain of it.

He sees her in the white,

fuzzy, undefined,

unrecognised,

light dims

turns black.

She stands

atop the grassy bank,

waits for him,

impatient,

angry,

hurt. 

He has not come. 

Looks down,

does not see him

taking root

amongst the undergrowth. 

“He will not do this again!”

she seethes,

cries,

turns on her heels

and leaves.

Anna :o]

With thanks to Tess at The Mag for the inspiration.