Unexpected
Terrifying
A tiny body surrounded by bigger ones.
Tubes
Lines
Machines
Alarms
“Is she breathing?”
“Is he alright? Is his heart..?”
The machines keeping fleeting hearts beating.
Keeping immature lungs inflated.
Keeping the tiny Humans alive.
Scrub, scrub more.
Put these on.
Yes you may touch through the hole.
Talk to him.
She knows your voice.
It is comforting.
Fighters
These tiny Humans are fighters.
Blown IV’s
Blaring alarms.
Come on baby. Hold on.
A fleeting heart stops.
Downcast eyes.
I am so sorry.
Weeping parents.
To the next one.
A once gained.
Half an once lost.
Kangaroo care.
She fits in my hand, her tiny feet half way up my arm.
He is so little. Our ring makes a bracelet.
Warm skin against warm skin. A fleeting heart strengthened by being against a chest.
He is made four pounds.
She is almost three pounds.
Close.
Fleeting hearts no more.
They beat independent of machines.
Home.
A cry as tiny Humans are placed in car seats for the first time
Such welcome cries.
Apnea machines heading home with these tiny humans.
To monitor their hearts.
Blessed.
They know they are blessed.
For the hearts in their tiny humans still beat.
Their tiny humans will grow strong and big.
YOU ARE READING
Tiny Humans
Non-FictionWrote for Flashfic Friday on Tumblr but I can't get it to post their. The prompt Fleeting Hearts. It is written in honor of the NICU workers and the tiny humans and their families that they serve.
