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In Sickness, by Marieke Steiner

10/8/2020

 
For an instant I stood over Billy’s bed and watched the movement of his chest in sleep. His breathing had a new rasp. Each rise was accompanied by an uneven rattle. Covid had scarred his lungs, the doctor said. But Billy was still one of the luckier ones – for an asthmatic.

I pulled up the worn blanket toward Billy’s head and pressed my lips against his warm forehead.


I wasn’t afraid for my own health since he seemed to have caught the illness from me.


​If once I had wished my younger brother dead, it had all been child’s play.

Sue Clayton
11/8/2020 07:47:19 am

How many of us have at some time said, perhaps under our breath, "wish you were dead" without ever meaning it. Not something to be said in thought or word in the current world climate.


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