After - The Little Things

I almost cried
when I saw her lying there.
Sleeping peacefully,
long lashes resting
on her baby soft cheeks.
She was sucking her thumb,
just like she used to before.

I almost cried

when I passed her in the living room,

sitting on the couch,

looking at a book.

Her little bandaged fingers

turned the pages so easily,

so carelessly. As if

she'd forgotten that 

she wouldn't before.

I almost cried

when she took her spoon

away from me at dinnertime,

insisting, "I do it."

She scooped her food

and fed herself,

her fingers curling

- bandages and all - 

around the spoon,

like it was the most natural thing

in the world.