packing her bag for the hospital—
a robe and some socks—
while others were leaving for holidays
(no one should die in the summer)
 
anxiously looking at scans and reports,
at the frowns of the doctors,
while others were posing for photos
(no one should die in the summer)
 
crushing some ice to be pushed
between her cracked lips
while others were sipping their cocktails
(no one should die in the summer)
 
begging for drugs that would lessen her pain
and allow her to sleep
while others were hitting the clubs
(no one should die in the summer)
 
listening to moans and the suction
of mucus from out of her throat
while others were singing in bars
(no one should die in the summer)
 
feeling her hand growing cold
as her eyes lost their focus
while others were dancing and flirting
(no one should die in the summer)
 
watching her body be placed on a gurney
and rolled down the hall
while others were yawning and laughing
(no one should die in the summer)
 
facing the sunrise, unwilling to move
and unable to cry
while others were happily dreaming
(no one should die in the summer)