When hope was all gone For a miracle cure The darkness descended And enveloped my world. Your battle was over You fought ever so valiantly But to live a long life Was not your destiny. I withered away In your absence I sank Deeper into grief And completely lost myself. Into a cavernous hole I fell all alone with the pain My limbs unwilling, unable To claw my way out. I stayed for a while Hiding away from the world As well meaning friends Offered empty platitudes. But slowly the rawness Faded a bit and I found That although it still hurt I could finally stand. I pulled myself up And took the first step Towards the healing I so desperately needed. Painstakingly slow I repaired my broken soul Like a phoenix that rose From the ashes to fly.