I said NO, over and over again,
I. SAID. NO.
I said NO sternly as your intern watched wide eyed, surprised at a patient’s mother objecting,
I. SAID. NO.
I said NO quietly as I pleaded with you on the phone, while he made a mess with his SpaghettiO’s,
I. SAID. NO.
I said NO angrily as I walked away from your colleagues,
I. SAID. NO.
I said NO nicely as he played happily with your stethoscope,
I. SAID. NO.
I said NO in my worried requests for a different option,
I. SAID. NO.
I said NO in my insistence on your credentials and your assurance that he would be safe,
I. SAID. NO.
I said NO for an entire year,
I. SAID. NO.
I said NO in my hesitation moments before you took him from my arms.
I. SAID. NO.
I said NO in a just plain, loud, clear, and simple “NO”, and you did not misunderstand.
I. SAID. NO.
I. SAID. NO.
I. SAID. NO.
I. SAID. NO.
I. SAID. NO.
I am Rowan’s mother. MY NO MATTERED S
and I am Rowan’s father. MY NO MATTEREDS
see also NO. MEANS. NO.