Anniversary of My Death Date

Anniversary of My Death 

February 5th, 2018 was the thirty-third anniversary of my death date. 
I always remember it, sadly.
I opened my eyes. Surprised to be alive. Sprawled onto 
hard mean concrete pavement.
Was it any consolation that one of the honking cars stayed? 
Was she doing me a favor?
An older woman gave me a sad look, then drove off like the others, leaving me to die.

The allure of the dark woods which were about ten feet away called me. 
Could I make it that far?
I took a step. A sword of burning hot searing pain blew up through my leg from the heel.
I tried to get up using my bike as a crutch, and fell back into the street. 
My leg was broken straight across in five breaks all the way down from my upper thigh to my ankle.
Of course, I did not know this yet.  I was in shock that I had gone from living to dead so fast.

With a pivot and a scream I attempted to use the bike as a crutch. 
It was no mirage that the pedal was gone, broken off by my delicate foot.
A police car came by. The younger officer was motioning wildly, pointing to me.
My face was half torn off too, but I did not feel that yet. 
I understood every non-verbal when the older policeman shook his head ‘no’ and drove on.
Six o’clock shift change. I would have been paperwork. 

A dulcet melody flowed into my mind as I lay down on the grass, 
next to the curb.
Ready for death, welcoming it. Next week, will be the thirty-fourth anniversary.
The date I realized people are not always kind. 
The death of my innocence.


Written January 31, 2019               Contest: 8 Word Anniversary
Sponsor: Michelle Faulkner
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

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Bangalee Avatar
January 31, 2019 at 10:40 PM
Anniversary of My Death.... The death of my innocence/// how wonderful and interesting writing this is!
Krutsinger Avatar
February 1, 2019 at 5:45 AM
I could not resist, as that is exactly what it was. Until the second the police officers drove off after the old lady drove off, I had 100 percent faith in humans. Now my faith is only 99.78 percent.
Wolf Avatar
January 31, 2019 at 10:14 PM
Awesome write, Caren. Even more awesome ending, searingly branded into the title of your poem... I want to wish you ??? Anniversary. Is 'Happy' the right word? Perhaps 'Grateful' is better. A very Grateful 34th Anniversary to you, my dear. And many, many more! Leben! / a la vida! / a la vie! / na zdoreve! / L'chaim / To Life! :) Gershon
Krutsinger Avatar
February 1, 2019 at 5:45 AM
It is coming up. 4 more days. I remember it every year, taking a deep breath wondering why God has given me all these chances to die, yet never brings me back?
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