treading

I decided to get on the treadmill again
Today
To make
progess
And lose weight
Before
the wedding.

I walked 21 miles before realizing I was
Still in the same place
And exhausted

I stupidly didn’t remember though
That I had placed
Some of our old photos
In frames
Behind the treadmill
For storage

During the “renovations”

Between steps
As the belt moved
Too fast to stay pace with
I was stabbed
With a shard
Of glass
In my calf

It was an accident
out of my control
Of course
Except I put the photos there
And chose to run
without going anywhere

My leg
Lit up
In pain
As I looked back to see your photo
Free of the frame
Smiling at me
Happy
I was hobbled

When I tried to call you
To take me the E.R.
You answered the phone
And pretended to
not know who
I was

Even my good memory was
Splattered in
Blood
now
and your voice
sounded different than before

I hung up
And tried calling again
In case I misdialed
But it was the same result
And you refused to admit
you
Knew me

I wouldn’t make it
To the wedding

I had to get to the hospital instead
Where my wound
Got infected
Despite the best care
And I died
From something
no one else died of