beeps: the ward's full orchestra.
old bodies on stretchers, slow dancers
pretending to be the sea.
family on chairs like an audience
who got here early.
I push through to her bed.
lean down. tell her:
one stent exploded.
gold in your veins now.
your heart is a gold mine.
she didn't smile.
her eyes took the long way up —
her signature Shanghainese meh.
I was relieved.