this is not the end

you never truly remember the place where your life started

but you never forget where you decide

to continue it

surrounded by four hot pink walls on a school night,

an ice cream place off the side of the road,

your grandmother's arms,

or in this case a local hospital

only blocks away from home,

one you have passed nearly everyday

whether it be while going to work,

headed out to shop, or even just taking the dog on a walk

there it is

a section of the building, not too far from where a mom

is normally caring for patients

and so busy from work she hardly has time to eat her meal in one sitting

though you have never seen that, no,

but you have seen countless walls painted off-white,

you have felt plenty of starchy and upsettingly bright white blankets

that always seem to suck the moisture from your palms with one touch,

you have heard the commotion of a troubled person or two or ten,

you have tasted the meals that always seem to lack a thing or two

that can not be placed,

you have felt the blood pressure cuff more times than you can remember,

you have had your blood drawn often,

you have lost sleep on beds too stiff and beds that never seem to stop moving

and yet,

this,

this is where you have decided to continue your life

t.b.