Xander is a little boy
tens years old
fighting the fight of his life
An illness that everyday bites at the life he’s barely lived
A virus feeding on the fruitful sugar in his heart

I still remember that fateful day
A nine year old with radiant eyes and the freshest smile I’d ever seen
Running
Laughing
Playing with his dream

Only to be hit with coursing pain of a strike from the hand of fate
Hammering death into his veins
Starting from his brain

My poor baby boy
Suddenly aware of the meaning
‘Life is short’

A child who hasn’t even tasted life
a sweet yet bitter candy
Who never had his heart broken
Never learned girls don’t have cuties
Never learned that this world is harsh beyond his wildest dreams
Never learned how wonderful this world can be

He may never get to live his life the way he should
But surely, there must be a reason
Where is that reason?

That a ten year old fights for his life
while we play on your phones
That a ten year old comes to me
Eyes glazed with tears
I.Vs stabbed into scarred arms
Injecting hope to save his life

He’s scared
He dreams of a hooded monster
holding the very tool that will drag him into a deep darkness

He dreams of death
Afraid this creature will come
setting free the last butterfly in his heart
Ending his dreams of flight

He comes to me at midnight
as no sunlight shines to drown out the dark
I see the tremble in his lips
tears in his eyes
sweat in his brow

A little boy,
drained eyes
pale skin
and a crooked number ‘7’ stitched on the back of his head

Stands tall
Shoulders back
Head as held as high as he can lift it

A child spends days in the hospital
but this child dreamed

He dreams of butterflies in the air
Like the one flying in his heart
Planes skimming the heavens
big sister’s holding his hands

Guiding him
Releasing him back into the world

Where rain falls
rainbows tattoos the sky
A little boy enjoys life no matter how harsh

Time has gone by
Nail biting seconds
Tear jerking hours
Outside white doors.
Days where I don’t know what to expect
Or what’s past the horizon

His family stands by
An army built for him
holding him high so once again he taste the sun upon his lips

But now, fate has changed
The cruel dealer turned over the cards
A ten year old received a wish

Taking the wish
and it’s gift
He flies on a man made bird

He sees angels fly
Birds soar to towering highs
His laugh harmonizing with the rays of the shining sun
Like a golden gift

He sits on soft, sun kissed sand
Enjoying the whispers of the wind
Creatures of the sea
Watching the water met the land
Under a palm tree

He survived a raging sea
with sirens calling him to reach his end
But no, never, not to this point will he give in

The mountain is climbed
he reaches the sky
His battle is over, He is victorious

Everyday comes the hidden thoughts of the devil’s return
But the sun rises every morning
Chased by the night
regardless of the day or how it went.

Xander, a brave little boy,
will rise as high as the sun
regardless of storms coming his way
But no one or life eating pest
Shall hold him back

Today, like everyday
He’s laughed
smiled
cried
But he’s still alive.