Anne Decanio

Vacation! - What fun it seemed
To end routine and escape for awhile.
Not knowing, Never suspecting,
It would require the end and escape
From my life entirely.

All was fine and we had such a good time
We ate at many fun restaurants
And swam constantly
Enjoying our break

Suddenly I did not feel well
A chill - brought on by the wet and cold
Of swimming in the pool it seemed.
An upset stomach - from too many unhealthy
Foods they assured me.
A sudden illness - a childhood flu
Caught at the airport perhaps.
The fatigue and fever - a product of constant excitement
And cured with proper rest.

They were sure that was all it was
A passing cold
A 24-hour flu
Nothing more than a slight damper
On my vacation fun.

Worse by the day was I
Eventually causing them to worry
And I was brought to the local hospital
A place I did not know
To receive tragic news.

This was no passing cold
No 24-hour flu
But something scary
With a scary and official name
Alien and unheard of to me -
E.Coli

I grew worse still
Lying in that strange hospital
Upset this had ruined our vacation
While my family stood by
And cried.

I leaned in towards my mother
I cried and said I was tired
Of vacation and wanted so badly
To go home with them.

I never did go home
That scary and official sounding thing
Kept me there for the short rest
Of my short life

My family cried for their little Anne
I did not yet understand
I was five.

Amy Moenning