Memoirs

Being Told

being told

talking to my friend
unaware of what's happened
turn the corner toward my house
two cars are there

neither are dad's
the green of my aunt's
the gold of my grandparent's
parked in a row

dad comes home tomorrow morning
they're not supposed to pick me up yet
why are they both here?
did someone die?

reach my front door
impending dread in my stomach
grandma opens the door
i hug her, ask what's going on

she doesn't say
but leads me into the kitchen
where my aunt and grandpa are
my aunt is crying

immediately i'm alarmed
as she puts a hand on either of my arms
and says
"something terrible has happened"

it's all she keeps saying
over and over
and she keeps crying more
i'm getting anxious

who could it be?
grandma and grandpa are both here
what else could happen that's so bad?
"what?" i keep saying

"you can hit me or yell when i tell you this"
oh, no
it couldn't be...
"your dad has been killed"