through death you appreciate life

In Cade’s car
I flip through
his CD case
filled with
life and love
and everything in between,
looking for something
to listen to on the ride
to the lighthouse.

Plans, by Death Cab for Cutie,
catches my eye, since it’s sticking out
a little farther than the others.

Cade glances at the CD.
“Oh, no,” he says.
“Not that one.
Not right now.”

“Oh, yes.
Yes, yes, yes!
I Will Follow You into the Dark is amazing. Brilliant.
I want to hear it.”

When he stops
at a red light,
he turns and looks at me.

“Do you know what it’s about?
The CD? Do you know what every
single song on there is about?”

I admit, I don’t.
I’ve never listened
to the whole thing,
just the few tracks
I’ve downloaded.

“It’s about death.
Death and dying.
Mortality and how to cope with loss.”

“Really?” I ask.
“All of it?”

“All of it.”

I put it in.

Because now
I’m curious.