Six weeks

Six weeks have past
Six weeks since we took Nathan
and a load of stuff off to college
the ride was fun
Nathan was so cute so full of
            joy
           excitement 
           anticipation
he had waited a lifetime for this
we meet his roommate
got him settled
said good-bye
now six weeks later
we return to pick up his stuff
 but not him
 he is dead
his dream
his adventure
his life
is
over
his body lies miles from the college
in a county morgue

at the college
we are greeted by sad faces
our eyes are red with tears
our hearts ache
we visit his room
devoid of his stuff
devoid of him 
I touch the bed
I touch the desk
and
weep
boxes full of his stuff
 all that remains of his dream
we load the boxes into the van
drive away with a van full of stuff
but no Nathan

6 weeks ago we arrived with such
          joy
 excitement
 anticipation
we leave crushed by grief
living a nightmare
as our worst dreams
come to life