How to tell them

Feb 8th, dark night

Don’t think. You can’t. 

You’re jumping off an impossibly high ledge
into a deep, freezing sea.

The part of you that thinks—
turn it off. 

Full steam ahead. No second guessing. 

Dial the number.

When they pick up, say hello 
but don’t delay.
Do not inquire about how their day went
and don’t check in on that thing from last week. 
Just ask: 
Do you have a minute?

They’ll know from the question
that it’s important. 

That’s all the buffer you can offer. 

When they say yes, 
you get one inhale.

You’ve never done this before, and now you have to
and that is ok because you already know 
that there is only one way to share something so true.

Exhale if you need it.
You probably won’t.

Then say it:

We lost him.

That’s how you tell them.

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If you’d like to read more, these words from this time last year are companions to what’s here.

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