One Week Before

on a Saturday, he sent a text
do you need anything?
he had stopped to pick up
medicine, Life Savers
and I answered no, thanks
I love you

in seven days
we were to leave
for California’s warm air
escaping winter’s cold
go till spring, the doctor said
and prescribed three months of meds

but the next Saturday
we neither boarded the plane
nor left the state
as he took his last breath
in the ICU
at the time of departure

at home, our luggage lay open
like plans gone bad
the plane took off
as his vitals crashed
the dreaded Code Blue
echoed all over the world

why do we believe in the future?
there’s no way to know
if we will be dead or alive
as we buy food for the week
make plans for tomorrow
yet what else can we do

but march toward the mirage
we call certainty