Just Needed You

Our life, our memories
Flashed before my eyes
That night.

I never thought
I would feel that afraid
To hear your mother’s voice.

“Patrick has been in an accident.”
I repeated those words in my head
Over and over and over again
The whole way home.

I can’t remember my drive back to you
The longest three hours of my life.
I can’t remember entering the hospital
Or even where I parked my car.

I hugged multiple people
Including your sister and mine.
I don’t seem to remember the words they spoke
Or even how long I was in the waiting room.

I only cared about where you were
And what condition you were in.
I needed to see you
And find that you were okay and alive
With my own two eyes.

You were unconscious
And unable to speak.
I could barely breathe
When I heard those words.

My eyes were glassy and wet
I think my hands were even shaking a little.
I sat quietly, with my face in my hands
Thinking of what was to come, what already happened.

I spent the next twenty-four hours
Holding your hand and talking to you
Explaining that I needed you to wake up, to speak, to move one muscle
Jesus, I just needed you.