missing

Listen to the falling rain,

watch it through the window

from the doorway

standing outside, feeling it fall upon your face

hiding your tears

the tears that are falling due to the pain

brought on by missing the one lost

Feel the emptiness, that vacant place

within your heart

listen to the memory of a voice

the sounds of laughter

the whispers of secrets shared

feel the memory of the brush of breath

against your ear, against your cheek

promises made, given in assurance

missing

the pain so intense, missing

Listen to the rain

drumming on the window

streaking the panes, obscuring the view

of the world outside, hiding

the view of the landscape

hiding the view

of a life that goes on, some how

missing

feel the emptiness

no longer the closeness

no longer the touch on the cheek

on the shoulder, on the arm

physical touch may be gone

but not the memory, not the touch on the heart

missing, missing

the laughter, the song, the presence

gone too soon..

Listen to the rain

wishing, for the sound

of that voice

wishing for the touch

just once more

but no

instead time is spent

listening to the rain

missing

that special piece of heart

gone

missing

In our life, we will all, have all been touched in some way by cancer. We have watched friends, family, coworkers fight their battles. We have watched the struggles as they underwent diagnoses then come to grips with what they faced. We have watched, stood close, ready to help, to be the caregiver if needed as they underwent surgery and treatments. We brought meals, gave rides, gave comfort and support. We gave as they fought. We have watched..and prayed.

In our life, we have watched those that are diagnosed, that fight the good fight, but lost. Even as they gave it all they had and then some. It just wasn't enough. Losing weight. Losing hair. Losing after they simply could not fight any longer.

In our life, we have all been touched by cancer. We will be touched more than once by cancer. Those that are diagnosed- that fight will be changed. We that care for them...will be changed.

I am a cancer survivor. I have friends that are cancer survivors. I know some that are currently fighting, and sadly.. some that lost, that have gone on before us. They have gone missing from our life, their smile, their laugh, their presence here gone, now but a memory and a special feeling in our heart.

I support the ACS and Relay for Life because I want to help raise awareness of the effects of cancer on us all. I want to help raise funds for research and all of the programs that the ACS has to help fight cancer and to help the many warriors among us.

Please consider joining your local Relay for Life, if that isn't possible, help me support mine. Please consider sharing your talent, your time, your gifts, your money..help us help the warriors, help us beat cancer and keep others from going missing too soon..