While walking home in the dark late last night,
			Stopped at a corner store a block away,
			It would just take a minute I had thought,
			I would not be there long just in and out.

			It happened so fast.
			A flash of lightning.
			A thunderous pop.
			Again and again.

			Two people down and I was next in line,
			The pain ripped through me making my eyes blur,
			Brought me to my knees, feeling nothing else
			Then a cold hard unfeeling cement floor.

			Seeing only red.
			Feeling only pain.
			Cold seeping in me.
			Darkness invading.

			In the fog I hear a siren blaring,
			The touch of professional hands working,
			A mask over my face, tubs in my arm,
			Sound of erratic beeping of machines.

			I wanted to sleep.
			To stay in the dark.
			I am beyond pain.
			Never want to wake.

			In my sleep I hear the doctors tell her,
			�The next twenty four hours are crucial,
			She must wake up soon or she will not at all,
			The prognosis does not look good sorry.�

			Besides me she sits.
			I feel her presence.
			It is familiar .
			I�m still in the dark.

			Her breathing turns into a ragged sob,
			Takes my still hand in her trembling one,
			She kisses my hand and tears fall on me,
			Laying her head next to mine she whispers.

			�Don�t you dare leave me.
			Do you honestly 
			Believe I can live
			Without you with me?

			Don�t leave me, don�t leave� she softly whispered,
			Kissed me with her unique gentle passion,
			And cried holding my hand desperately,
			As if letting go I would also go.

			I held to that kiss.
			Used the sensation.
			I pulled from darkness.
			Escaped it�s strong hold.

			Opening my eyes I see what I hear,
			She does not notice yet, so I watch her,
			Her eyes finally track to mine, I smile,
			Wipe her tears away still watching her.

			�I will not leave you.�
			It was worth her smile.
			If given the chance,
			I�d do it again.

			To hold her in my arms is worth the pain,
			Together we�ll have to work through a lost,
			It�ll be emotional and physical,
			But we can and we will conquer it all.

			That�s what friends do.
			That�s what lovers do.
			We are both of those.
			And we will pull through.