She walked swiftly,

Head bowed, arms

Swinging at her sides,

Black leggings, tight

Crop top over an

Exercise bra, orange

Addida Ultra Boosts

On her feet, moving on

Autopilot to reach her

Five mile goal, breath

Puffing tiny clouds into

Icy morning air yet

She didn't feel cold as

The sweat she worked

Up trickled between

Her shoulder blades,

A beeping sounded

From her activity

Watch notifying her

That her walk was

Ended, she slowed,

Pacing, stretching,

Falling onto a bench,

Popping the top on

Her bottle, warm water

With electrolytes slid

Down her parched

Throat, small sips as

 Her eyes gazed across

The river noting the

Ducks paddling along

With no seeming rush

To reach anywhere,

The sunrise was just

Cracking the skyline,

No time to enjoy it

Though, she must

Catch the bus, shower

In the locker room,

Pulling on her nurse's

Uniform, ID badge

Around her neck,

She strolled into a

Small room, Peds 

Oncology, genuinely

Warm smile on her face

As she greeted the

Thin boy in the bed,

Went about checking

IV's, machines, all

While telling him

About the ducks she'd

Seen swimming in

The river in a cheery

Voice, tucking

His blankets tightly in

Beside him, they'd both

Made it through one

More night.

By Gail Constable

From: Canada

Instagram: witch_of_words1955