One (Sarah Crossan)

I Cannot shake it off

I cannot get these shivers to go away

and though Tippi seems way better

she has to stay in bed, too.

While I

fight the flu.

Worrying

Mom calls Dr Derrick

and gives him

a list

of our

symptoms.

He isn’t worried,

for now.

He tells her to keep us hydrated

and in bed for a few more days.

He tells her to watch us.

But Mom can’t help watching.

She can’t help worrying.

And why wouldn’t she

when so few of us manage to make it to adulthood.

The older we get

the more she frets.

As time ticks by

the chances of us

suddenly

ceasing

to be

get

quite

high.

That’s just a fact

that will

never

go

away.

I Get Up

I don’t want to.

My legs are wobbly.

My throat is coated in sand.

And my heart feels as though it’s beating

extra hard

just to

get me from the bed

to the bathroom.

‘You sure you don’t want to lie down?’

Tippi asks.

I shake my head.

I can’t confine her to bed

just because I can’t get my

act together.

I shake my head

and suck it up.