It followed her home,
a quiet shadow
that sat on her chest,
invisible, but heavy.
It flowed through her veins
as ice water
when the clinic called with updates
pathology, hematology, microbiology-
(all of the cruel sciences)
At night
It lay between them (she and her lover)
as still as a stone;
just as warm.
It followed her home, and
despite numerous attempts
at eviction,
it stayed.