You sealed yourself into this old, dilapidated house

with that bed becoming your prison.

I chose to look away

as my memory of you began to fade.

I never thought my grandmother

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would end up like this,

would do this to herself,

would let herself waste away.

I removed my heart and never tried

to understand your pain.

I knew that it was only a matter of time

and I knew I couldn’t keep watching you die.

Now that you are gone,

I feel the guilt of betraying your love,

of not being there for you

as I was too wrapped up in myself

to try to ease your pain

with my love and devotion.

I should have sat beside you,

I should have tried to make you smile,

but I ran, I hid, I failed you.

- dedicated to Lena Mae Riley