The same day I resigned myself to watching, waiting
and being with my longing
You saw me.

I was accompanying my mom to her suite,
and the first resident I met at the seniors’ home caught my eye.
I saw in her face what she’s told me a dozen times since then,
“You’re doing great.”

That day started
with two calls from the care aide.
After conversations with the case manager,
long-term care greeters,
the medical lab,
my sister,
the doctor,
and the pharmacist,
I was at the checkout at Freshco wondering why the machine wouldn’t take my card.
“You already paid,” the cashier said.
Then she surprised me.
She reached her blue-gloved hand over the mangoes and prune juice
and squeezed my hand.
“You’re having a hard day,” she said kindly.

After supper, I went back to my parents’ apartment,
cut up a mango, my mom’s favourite fruit,
and watched her enjoy it.
My dad sighed and said,
“We end how we begin.”

Before I left, he told me about the best day of his life.
“It was Christmas Eve,” he said,
“The snow had fallen, and I was walking back
from the cheese factory to the house.
I turned the corner and saw
the Christmas tree through the window
with all the candles lit.
I was coming home to someone who was on my side
and our children.”
He paused and sat back in his wheelchair,
“I’ll never forget that moment.” 
Mom smiled

and I knew You were telling them
that’s how their ending will be.

The light keeps shining in the dark,
and darkness has never put it out.
–John 1:5 (CEV)

Credits and References:
“Emmaus” by Caravaggio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Appearances by Esther Hizsa, 2024
“Candle on Christmas Tree” “from pickpik.com. Creative Commons.

© Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim, 2024.
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without permission from Esther Hizsa is prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used provided there is a link to the original content and credit is given as follows: © Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim 2013-2024.  http://www.estherhizsa.com