Time acts differently around the dying.
While the living are out and about doing their thing,
checking clocks,
planning,
checking schedules –
time will expand and contract accordingly.
Around the dying one,
time does no such thing.
It has one slow, steady pace,
loudly beating the seconds,
each second to be suffered through,
or savored.
Each second
keenly keeping pace,
through anticipation,
dread
or calm.
Time holds the dying,
and for the witness,
each second
vibrates through body and soul.