THE PARTING

They took me in: kind. I took their name; Their Jesus- mark in the center of my forehead. They gave me future; I took it in both my hands: hiding, silence, all of it, the price.

No picture of my parents. I cannot now remember their faces. But the parting:

my mother did not cry. Go, she said, just go. My father would not release my hand. We’ll bring him back the woman said, over and over: I promise. We’ll bring him back. When this is over I promise we’ll bring him back.