OctPoWriMo 2014: Day 30

Copyright: mkistryn / 123RF Stock Photo

On the Day Before

On the day before the end came

There was no discernible antecedent

We knew the time was soon

That was inevitable

But there was no precursor to the event itself

Nothing to preface its coming

We believed that there was still a little time before you left

But while we went home for the night

Your wife, your son and daughter, and your only grandson, the only child of your daughter

Leaving you in the hospice center to rest

The door to the other side opened in front of your weary eyes

You walked through

Free at last from the deterioration

Of your badly compromised body

~Cie~

For my father

May 31, 1936 - November 28, 2010

Notes:

My father suffered from vascular compromise leading to stroke, congestive heart failure and vascular dementia over a period of six years. He was a college professor and he was committed to his daily workouts. In the end he became wheelchair bound, confused and frightened. 

Don't let stereotypes about body type fool you. Hypertension happens to people of all body types. My father was not obese. In fact, out of all of us in the family, I, who am a larger person, did not have hypertension onset until I was in my mid-forties, and it coincided with the raising of the dose of thyroid medication, which contributes to high blood pressure.

The most important point is, check your blood pressure at least once a week even if you're healthy, because hypertension can happen to anybody. Machines are available in any drug store and in some grocery stores. 

I'm using the "Unda Nether" or 666 Typing Monkeys account, which is an account available to all members of the team. I created it because some of the team at times feel vulnerable, even when using a pen name, due to our particular brand of mental illness. This allows another layer of anonymity. However, in the end I opted for transparency.

Your Prompt:

On the day before…..

Word prompts:

before

preface

precursor

front

antecedent