Your shoulders slumped

Like a young child hiding in a corner

Your cheeks glistened

Shadows of tears on your shattered face

I can not imagine what it felt like

To hear your friend had cancer

The Big “C”

I baked you a cake

For the first time in a while

Your hands stopped shaking

For just a moment

I thought I saw you smile

Chocolate buttercream

Your favorite flavor

Made especially for you

The swirls of buttercream covered the ganache drip

Like a pillow for dried tears

Hidden beneath the fluffy buttercream frosting

Imperfections nobody could see

But everyone knew were there

I cut into the cake

The sweet aroma of vanilla filling the air

The cake bouncing back against the knife’s blade

I gave you the biggest piece

Your eyes softened

We ate our cake in silence

No words could describe your despair

I had forgotten what you looked like without bloodshot eyes

You approached me 

So I wrapped you in my arms

Swaddling you like a baby

I pulled you in tighter 

As if our closeness could take away your pain

I felt your shoulders relax

Your heartbeat slowed

You took a deep breath

Then seemed to let everything go

Who knew it would be a piece of cake?