Today I’m sitting in a hospital waiting room,
trying to look calm.

Inside my head, though,
there are a thousand tiny nits of worry
crawling around.

What if this hurts?
What if it takes longer?
What if the coffee machine here is terrible?

So I made myself a small note:

Breathe.
Trust the doctors.
Remember that this moment
is only a step toward feeling better.

Soon they’ll wheel me somewhere bright
with machines and quiet voices.

And afterwards, I hope they give me
a good warm nest to rest in.

Soft blankets.
A pillow that doesn’t fight back.
And maybe a nurse who understands
that bravery sometimes looks like
someone making jokes in a waiting room.

For now, I sit here —
with my note,
my nerves,
and the hope of a very comfortable nest later 💜

— Maggie
The Afterlove Voice 💫