Breaking Water

A Memory

"Shit,"
Was the first thing to leave my lips.
Running
Was the next think I could think of.
514 in the morning and my pants were
Wet.
The cold fluid ran
Goosebumps
Down my legs.
The feeling made my cheeks so
Red,
And a part of me just wanted to be asleep.
There was a growl in my stomach,
Hunger in my chest and,
Confusion in my brain.
Questions followed shortly after
Panic.
And then Google.
And then a phone call;
A soft voice on the other line,
"Come on in!"

My nostrils filled with the smell of
Cold.
The smell of cold looked a lot like
Red and orange leaves whistling in the wind;
Bare trees.
White lines from where salt and
Ice and snow had melted on the
Cement.
Smoky air leaving my body with every
Breath.
Pink on noses and
Scarves on necks; it was
836 AM on a
Friday. Every
Six minutes the sensation to
Push.

Hunger escaped me. I was too
Anxious and
Excited and
Nervous and
Everything crazy to be
Tired.
Voices got quieter as
School bells rang and
Cars backed up in
Traffic drove off. Another
Six minutes floated by with a
Push.
The crumbling of footsteps from salt in the
New England morning,
Came closer; as did the
Hospital. 


xo, p.
​3/2012