CAREGIVER DIARIES: HE SEES

HE SEES

His eyes are light and grey-ish now

He opens them every now and then

If he likes what he hears

He opens them wide

Tears well, but they never fall

Sometimes I think he’s looking at me

Sometimes it seems he’s looking past me

There are others in the room

I can’t see them, but he points

He fixes his eyes on them

And then he looks up

His gaze is intense

Who, or whatever he sees captures his attention

His breathing is labored as he sleeps

And his sleep is deep and peaceful

His dreams are lucid

He wakes from them abruptly 

Then slowly closes his eyelids again

If I let go of his hand, he opens his eyes

If I leave his line of vision, he scans the room

I wave and say, "I'm right here"

I thought he couldn’t see

I was wrong