At six years old
I loved going to the park
The red swings
yellow slides
grey rusty monkey bars
my sister and I played on it all

We knew about my mom’s situation
just too young to fully understand
or to be of much help.
Extra ribs will affect a lot in a person
a lot

One day my sister and I were at the park
with my mom
They didn’t happen that often
but when they did
my dad took care of her
So when she fell by the yellow slide
and lay on the ground shaking
we were caught of guard

My sister ran to the nearest adult
while I stayed and watched my mom
as she slowly turned purple
and her hands clenched into fists

“It’s a seizure”
my sister explained to the woman
She called an ambulance
5 minutes had passed
and it seemed like forever

I was on the ground now
watching my mom
I turned her head to the side
to make sure she didn't swallow her tongue

The sound of the sirens filled the park
and we all watched as the ambulance pulled up
My sister and I held my mom’s hand
She was expressionless
The seizure had passed
and she looked exhausted

The paramedics laid my mom on a stretcher
and raised her into the back of the vehicle
My sister and I said thank you to the woman who called
and climbed into the passenger seats of the ambulance

As we drove down the road
I thought about what had just happened
The red swings
yellow slides
grey rusty monkey bars
and how it would never be the same
Dealing with all of that
It was hard