Zoey

You hugged me on the last day of school.
Just two weeks ago you said that mine was your favorite class.
You asked if you could email me over the summer and
sent three emails in your IM lingo these past two weeks.
Last night your words made my heart skip and my mind whirl in protest.
Impossible words from one so young and feisty.
Yes, feisty, sassy, spirited.
Never quiet, often combative and always opinionated.
Even with your poor spelling skills the words were unmistakable:
Leukemia. Chemotherapy.
A knot tightens in my stomach and disbelief screams.
I imagined you riding your horse this summer,
working on your mother’s ranch with abused animals.
Trying to save the world.
Now you are thrown into another battle.
Fight, Zoey.
Use all that energy and fight to save yourself.
You just turned fifteen last month.
So many plans, experiences, dreams, and opportunities await.
May you win this battle, Zoey,
to fight the injustices of the world another day.