02.05.2016 | Healing Arts: Materia Medica
Dressed for the Party
Remembering his death—for R. (1985–2015)
Erschienen in: Journal of General Internal Medicine | Ausgabe 10/2016
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Your ruffled shirt is what I noticed firstat your mom’s birthday party. We conversed,and you were quite the gentleman, to flirtharmlessly with your mother’s friend, alertthe bartender to fill my glass. You nursed
your ginger ale, decanted wine, dispersedthe waiters with one gesture, and, well-versedat being host, you served us all dessertin your ruffled shirt.
…The boy in you, though, teased, snuck up and burstballoons and laughed. Your brown eyes held your thirstfor fun, for dares, for playing in the dirt;skinned knees; bruised heart; and other kinds of hurtto come—your only shield against the worstyour ruffled shirt.