Terminal Illness

by Michael Dylan Welch and Allyson Whipple

Written 1 July 2023 in the Rookwood Room at the Netherland Plaza Hotel at Haiku North America, Cincinnati, Ohio. At the end of conference, after having flown home, I came down with Covid (as did at least 11 other HNA attendees). We think we caught it from the Swifties, in town (and inundating our hotel with sparkles and glitter) for a Taylor Swift concert that same weekend.

sudden sneeze—

my baggage

over the weight limit Michael

pulling down my mask

for the security check Allyson

suppressing her cough

the agent with latex gloves

scans my boarding pass Michael

cold sweat

the shuttle door

barely closes Allyson

my limp returns

on the moving sidewalk Michael

indefinite delay

painkiller options

at the newsstand Allyson