The first year
One candle on a perfectly frosted homemade cake
Laughter floating on the cool Autumn air
With joined hands,
Mother and father lovingly sing
Cameras flashing
A perfect snapshot in time
The 16th year
Sixteen candles on a store-bought cake
Anxiety and beeping monitors,
hang in the sterile air
With joined hands,
Mother weakly hums and coughs
Father quietly sings
The monitor flat lines
A snap-shot seared in time
The 18th year
One candle on a stale cupcake
Anger and depression lay heavily in the filthy air
With free hands,
Father opens another Bud Light
Mother’s stone chilled by Autumn air
The TV filling the silence
A snap-shot hardening the heart
The 21st year
No candle
No cake
Sadness weaves in the frosted air
With shaking hands,
The daughter looks at both parents
Stones side by side
The pastor speaks to the only one present
A snapshot at the end
