Time to time

She sat waiting.
Hands pressed against her eyes.
Stars streamed through darkness.
Come home, return to me.
A bump.

She looked up.
The fuzzy filter of tears.
She lowered her trembling hands
The darkness entered.

It flowed through the open window.
A wave of black smoke.
She was unable to speak.
Only feel.
"Oh God".

Too soft to hear.
The smoke enveloped her.
A lover embrace.
A pythons squeeze.

Cold scales scraped her skin.
She never regretted it.
Not even at the final moment.
Her breath left her.

I watched only from the other room.
I never moved.
I never spoke.
I was only a child then.
But I have not forgotten.

As it left.
I could swear it had whispered my name.
Ever so faintly.
And I have not forgotten.

My father still visits from time to time