The oak trees that swayed with the wind at Kum-Ba-Yah.
The nest I walked into as we hiked the trails.
The wasps that I angered who dug their stingers in my face.
The echo of my cries that pierced throughout the campgrounds.
The nurse who spread cold ointment across my bulging purple head.
The rotary phone that buzzed until my mother picked up.
The panicked voices in the car flying down Boonsboro Road.
The rear view mirror startling my swollen eyes that felt like two tiny water balloons.
The backseat wet with tears because I thought I’d go blind.
The warm Lion King bed sheets that tucked me in that night.
The handmade get well cards full of sad faces and crayon-colored signatures.
Written by Devans Eli. Copyright 2023 by Devans Eli. All rights reserved.