She & I

I stared
At her
Gushing with femininity
In that older, more innocent body
That never knew the cuts of surgery
Nor the nauseousness of chemo
Nor the grief of trauma
Nor the ghost of cancer
And I marveled
At how we can be
So alike
And so different

I marvel
At her absolute innocence

I see
So much strength
In her, lifting her tall
In me, drawing me in

I see so much faith
In her, zesting her life
In me, brushing my lips with the taste of gratitude

And though her right breast is full and plump and round
Untouched by buzzing machines and cold hands
And my right breast is smaller
Slightly crooked
And scarred
Although the flesh has been altered
And a layer of a bizarre story has been introduced to my mind
We both know
That she and I
Are simply
A hugging group of cells
Floating
In this vast universe
Seeking nothing
But tenderness
And love

Many paths
Many journeys
It always boils down to this
Tenderness
And love

Amal
Feb 2020