Four hours in the ER

Four hours in the ER

for a kidney stone. My friend

was fine. They always are,

the ones you bring.

Across the room a woman knitting

without looking down. Needles

moving like breathing—automatic,

the way you do a thing

when the thinking part has quit.

Nobody came through the door for her.

Not in four hours. Not once.

The yarn pulled slow

from the bag at her feet.

My friend's name got called.

We stood. She didn't.

Hands still going. Whatever she was making

longer by the minute,

and no one coming.