Waiting With Hands Folded 

 

By Sharon Lea

 

Sitting in the waiting room

your hands folded

I touch your arm

look around at people

glance at words

on a screen

or magazine

but too distracted

with fears

of the unknown

to really read at all

shifting back and forth

sometimes standing

scared and praying

together we are fearful

what if tumors have grown

we hold hands

fingers intertwined

feeling our fears together

the clinical trial

gave us some hope

only a little bit

now we will know

together we sit waiting

hands folded

I touch your arm

your name is called

we walk through the door

the nurse sweetly smiles

guides us to a room

scans don't lie

it's all there and we cry

we come out

in the waiting room of people

our eyes are teary

we hold hands

I rub your back

walking down the hall

towards the elevator

no more waiting - we know now