All Nonfiction
- Bullying
- Books
- Academic
- Author Interviews
- Celebrity interviews
- College Articles
- College Essays
- Educator of the Year
- Heroes
- Interviews
- Memoir
- Personal Experience
- Sports
- Travel & Culture
All Opinions
- Bullying
- Current Events / Politics
- Discrimination
- Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
- Entertainment / Celebrities
- Environment
- Love / Relationships
- Movies / Music / TV
- Pop Culture / Trends
- School / College
- Social Issues / Civics
- Spirituality / Religion
- Sports / Hobbies
All Hot Topics
- Bullying
- Community Service
- Environment
- Health
- Letters to the Editor
- Pride & Prejudice
- What Matters
- Back
Summer Guide
- Program Links
- Program Reviews
- Back
College Guide
- College Links
- College Reviews
- College Essays
- College Articles
- Back
The Monster
tiny baby
helpless and pure
entirely unaware
of the invading monster inside his body
brooded within the first weeks of development
no one can stop it
no one can see it
the monster has hidden itself ever so completely
so that it can roam free
without an ounce
of guilt
it rips apart the insides
it destroys its host
a leach that refuses to let go
it must be an indescribable wonder
how such a monster
can reside in such a beautiful baby
such an innocent baby
but that's the thing
the monster doesn't care who its prey is
the monster doesn’t care who its hurting
it has no conscience
and it has no feelings
it is no more than a matter of cancerous tissue
metastasizing throughout an infant's body
killing cells that had only recently been created
ruining the life of a child, so new to this world
this in itself is like a murder
and yet a child is born
defenseless and unprepared
for the challenge he is about to face
only a few weeks old
and this child must wear armor
armor better suited for the old
those who have been places
those who have met people
those who have lived
these are the people who wear the armor
but instead
a child must
a child whose parents protect him
at any cost
and love him
unconditionally
but this
this is something foreign
something only a doctor can cure
parents who serve as the fortress
the safe haven
must become stronger
stronger than before
stronger than the cancer
strong enough to leave when necessary
even when the pain of hearing
their child cry out their names
and walking away from the hospital crib
is easier than putting him
through eight hours of radiation treatment
again
because just the sight of their faces
makes the infant cry
for them
to be held
by them
because just a slight move
by the child
forces the nurse
to start all over
again
unable to speak
for himself
the child
silently shouts,
“Let Go. Let Go. Let. Go!!!
Please just let go of me!!”
the parents
able to speak
silently scream,
“Let Go! Let Go! Let. Go!!!
Just let go of our son!!”
Surgeries
Radiation
Chemo
Time
Prayers
sacrifices were made
tears were cried
hours were spent
saving his life
and one day
it let go
Joy
Happiness
Relief
Exhaustion
Thanks
these were all
the emotions
going through
his family’s minds
a long while
this child would live
and grow
into a man
before the monster
came back
again
he started
a prosperous business
and married
a beautiful woman
and fathered
two wonderful girls
but one awful day
the man
got the news
again
he had cancer
again
and so
the man put on his armor
again
but this time
it was not for an infant
it was for an adult
he fought the monster
with much vigor
now knowing
exactly
what he was fighting for
many doctor’s appointments
many surgeries
many tears
many prayers
the man had fought the monster
once
again
and although the monster
had only entered
their lives
for a short while
the monster not only
affected
the man
but his daughter
as well
the monster left
a lasting impression
on the girl
more of
a nightmare
that will be
forever
cast out of her sleep
but for now
all the girl
can do
is thank God
for helping
her father
fight the monster
and pray
that the monster
will never
come back
again
Similar Articles
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
This article has 1 comment.
7 articles 0 photos 11 comments
Favorite Quote:
"I am not young enough to know everything"<br /> "These are days we dream about, when sunlight paints us gold, and this apartment could noat be prettier as we danced up there alone."