I look out the window
as the strange men walk away
I stare blankly
I don’t understand
and as they close the doors
the ones on the back of their big white van
I say to my mother
“Where are they taking daddy?”
she kneels down
trying to make me look
into her sad blue eyes
as she holds my brother
and chokes back her tears
“They’re taking him to heaven”

Still looking out the window
I can only think
Why?
I watch them start to drive
I run to the other side of the house
and make it to watch them
as they leave the gravel driveway
I whisper
“Please bring him home soon”

That was only a few days ago
today is daddys birthday
and we bought him a balloon
I had to hold it
no
I had to let it go
and watch
watch the balloon float away