Chrysogonus #20 - The Hug

The Hug

            for Lip Giu

in the end we found him

on a bed in a dirty hospital ward

the estranged one

the granduncle I’d never met

he left my hometown

to escape the genocide, laying low

last contact

thirty years ago – just these words

- I am safe

he was looking at us

with eyes unfocussed

was he seeing my mother?

three decades

since their last

hello

his lips trembling

wrinkled hands

gripping my mother’s

firmly

not wanting to let go

a strong hold

a smile on mother’s face

it’s okay, Giu –

she was saying

he drew her

closer, such strength

one more hug

a name

he mouthed it

my late grandmother’s

my father stood still

teary eyes, my mother’s

my legs like jelly

a long hug

I didn’t know how long

I couldn’t see a clock

nor could I hear

the ticking

on my wrist

thank you –

he said, smiling

sparkle in his eyes

his daughter called us last night

he died with a smile never seen before