We were dismayed to see

two long-time friends

in a healthcare unit,

bound by wheelchairs

and with garbled speech.

He once led us and others

on day-long canoe trips,

and she taught grammar

to corporate executives.

Yet…….

That twinkle is still in his eyes,

and her sweet smile is the same.

Though we could not make

out most of what they said,

they seemed to have a

secret language and to

understand each other.

He looked at her with

such love in his eyes,

and she smiled back.

At that moment it

was just the two of them

and they were happy.