Two Inches

SOMETIMES TWO INCHES CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING

I have heard stories of an 11 year old boy

He was playing outside on a zip line

It was fast, too fast

His head smacked against the metal pole

His pulse hit against his chest like a drum

And then it was quiet

His chest was still

The helicopter blades pushed through the sky

They fought so hard

The pockets of air beat along with my heart

But not his

I was calm

But my foot still tapped against the cold tile floor

Raising two inches each time

It was a long night

I sat by him and looked into his eyes

I saw the crack in his skull

His skin was pale

Never again did my brother open his eyes

He never again kissed his dog or shot a basketball

He never again played beautiful music on the piano

Those two inches on his head

Were the only two inches that would kill him

Like an Achilles heel

Two inches is only the size of a pinky finger

But to my family, two inches is everything

We didn't get a miracle that day

But his organs gave many miracles to others

Maybe one day we'll get one back

AND IT WILL ONLY BE TWO INCHES LONG