Cardiac Arrest
Just before my dad died
My mom told him to never give up hope
That was the last thing she said to him
I wish I could say I told him the same thing
I didn’t
I had already given up hope
I don’t remember the last thing I said
It was weeks before
What I do remember is all the times
I ignored him
Or rolled my eyes
Or slammed the door
The official cause of death
Was “cardiac arrest”
Due to overdose of alcohol
But I know I killed him
He died of a broken heart
The rest was just a formality