the blood poured out 
as fast as we pumped it in
and the doctor
began to look worried
as we wondered silently
why he had waited so long
 
I held her head
and stroked her hair
and watched mahogany eyes
for signs of life
we whispered to her to stay with us
as bedlam erupted
in the tiny overheated room
and the doctor sent for help
 
we ran down the halls 
and yelled instructions 
to the faceless team
who stood ready in their
sterile greens
 
she was thrown
from stretcher to table
and I told her once more
to stay with us   
then I slipped out 
as the experts went to work
 
we cleaned the once-peach room
a place of happiness turned quickly
into a trauma bay
as order came from chaos
I found myself haunted by the image
of those fading eyes
and wondering again
what the hell took
the doctor
so long to intervene
______________

©Jen C.