Peeing Into the Abyss

Summary

A patient reflects on the humorous and existential experience of needing to urinate desperately while being rushed to the emergency room, finding a moment of levity and curiosity about mortality in the midst of a medical crisis.

Abstract

The narrative "Peeing Into the Abyss" humorously recounts a patient's urgent need to urinate on the way to the emergency room, despite the gravity of their condition. Amidst the seriousness of potential heart issues and the darkness that may follow, the patient is preoccupied with the immediate bodily need to relieve themselves. The medical team's focus on treatment is juxtaposed with the patient's comical yet profound contemplation of the afterlife, as they signal the Grim Reaper while urinating. The story concludes with the patient finding a makeshift solution to their predicament, emphasizing the importance of living another day and the unpredictable nature of life, hinting at further stories to be told.

Opinions

The author treats the subject of a medical emergency with a light-hearted tone, suggesting that humor can be found even in distressing situations.
There is a sense of irony in the patient's concern for their appearance ("nice undies, just in case") and their mother's advice amidst a life-threatening scenario.
The patient's experience highlights the vulnerability and absurdity of human bodily functions, especially in the face of potentially dire consequences.
The act of urinating becomes a metaphor for the character's desire to understand what lies beyond life, as they "pee into the abyss" and simultaneously signal the Grim Reaper.
The narrative implies that life's unexpected moments, even those as trivial as needing to urinate, are worth experiencing and can provide insight into the human condition.

Sometimes ya gotta go, even when you’re already on the way out

Manneken Pis, Brussels, photo by Pixabay

When my heart doesn’t beat I can peek into the darkness that might follow

Just a clue, that’s all I ask. I want to know what’s on the other side

but the med tech has other plans, pumps a gallon of fluids into my vein.

Oh no. I must pee! Hole in my undies — my mother warned me this would happen — “nice undies, just in case.”

What did he think would happen on this hour-long ride to the emergency room? “Doc, I MUST pee, NOW!”

Find a bucket, unstrap from the gurney unhook monitors white cotton blanket over his head so I couldn’t see him.

I would have peed in my boot if it came to that. But, instead of a peek, I pee-e-e-e-e-ed, long and gleefully, into the abyss,

while signaling the Grim Reaper to keep his umbrella handy.

Pixabay, messed with by author

It’s always worth living another day. So, if you’re curious about what happened next, this:

And then this:

POETRY

Peeing Into the Abyss

Sometimes ya gotta go, even when you’re already on the way out

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