Even Grandma

she rounded the corner
found him laying on his back
still

he looked at her
with mercy in his eyes
she delivered none

He begged in silence
giving way to occasional whimpers
she wouldn't oblige

he wanted coma
release
a dream

she wanted him
lying there
she wanted him to look in on
and pity
she wanted him to suffer

so he did

his insides turned to mint jelly

he began to look away
to the ceiling
to the window covered with purple construction paper
to the crack in the wall from the last earthquake

she let him go
it was a sunny day

he left when the leash was released
he left and never looked back