Dear Cancer

Dear Cancer,

you probably don’t remember me.

you’ve probably seen a million kids since you met me.

there are thousands of kids that they couldn’t save,

but in me, they killed you, and I will stay.

I had it easier than others, you were here for less than a year,

and the chances of you returning are fewer every day, but there is still the fear.

And it still feels like you screwed things up.

I’m at the hospital a few times a year,

it’s easier than it was, but it isn’t any fun.

the pain is gone,

but the scars are always there.

You had your run,

why can’t you just go away?

We are too young for this! I was only eleven,

and you could have sent me all the way to heaven!

So I had to fight,

when I should have been laughing.

and I laugh now,

only because I’ve seen the devil.

I know what it’s like to be at the end of your wits,

to hurt so bad, you want to call it quits.

But I didn’t

I’m still here, having more fun than ever.

But life will always come back to you.

I’ll go in circles until forever,

and no matter how far I run,

you’ll still wind up at my door.

None of this is fair,

we both know it isn’t.

You know the looks on their faces.

You hear the “what was it like?”

the smiles they think show sympathy,

but all I see is the fear.

Their pity will never be enough.

I just need you to go away.

I already gave you my innocence.

What more could you possibly want?

This article was featured in the June 2024 Dear Cancer issue of Elephants and Tea Magazine! Click here to read our magazine issues.