The Sick Woman

I wonder if I should go
and see Him.
They say that He’s coming today.
I won’t get another chance.
But
it will be busy;
it will be noisy;
There will be crowds.
I can’t…..

They say He can heal people.
What if I could get near
and ask Him?
No.
They wouldn’t let me;
they would stop me.
And anyway
He might not want to see me.
I couldn’t bear that
I’ll just stay here.

I can hear the noise.
He must be coming.
I will go,
just to look, mind,
from a distance,
away from all those people
who have
shunned me,
taunted me,
reviled me
for so long.
Yes, I will go.

I can see Him now,
surrounded by people,
so many people.
But at least no-one
is taking any notice of me.
Perhaps I could get closer.

If I don’t go now
He will have passed by.
I won’t get another chance.
I can’t….
I can’t speak to Him,
not here, not now.
not ever…

He’s gone past.
But now I’ve seen Him
I know
He can help.
I don’t have to speak to Him.
I’ll just touch Him.
Yes, if I can get close enough
I’ll just touch Him,
and then go back home.

There’s a gap in the crowd.
I can just squeeze through.
I can reach Him now
I can touch Him…

I’ve done it
And I feel so good,
so well,
so full of life again.
But He’s stopped.
He’s asking who touched Him.
Everyone is looking round.
It’s gone quiet…
I can’t hide any longer.
I’m trembling
as I approach Him.
Then I look at Him
and no-one else matters.
I fall down at His feet
and I tell Him everything,
everything,
like He was the only one there,
and He doesn’t stop me.
He lets me finish
and then He looks straight at me
and He calls me
‘Daughter’.
Me!
A nobody.
No one had spoken to me
for so many years
like He did then.
I look up
and I see in His eyes
such love,
such compassion.
I can’t begin to tell you
how it feels.
But I know,
I know beyond any shadow of doubt
that I am healed.

© Kathleen Wilks