Two Hands

Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer
2 min readDec 2, 2022

by Julianne Theodoropulos

I am excited to share a beautiful piece of writing from one of my workshop participants, Julianne Theodoropolus. Feed Your Spirit Writing offers online workshops focusing on the intersection of writing and spiritual growth…come join us!

Photo by Kaushik Panchal on Unsplash

It’s so good to see him. Gone from this world 14 years now. He left us — Mom, the four of us, his friends and colleagues. We knew he’d have to go. His body overtaken by disease. His blood literally had run dry, housing cells of destruction that marched through him like soldiers obliterating every sign of life along their path.

“Give me your hand, Dad.” It was firm, it was warm, it spoke to mine.

“Why are you trembling?” whispered his ancient and spiny hand, “Are you alright?”

“I don’t know,” said my own little palm as I felt it vibrate.

Two hands, ten fingers, and countless wrinkles, veins and age spots were in silent congregation as they swung ahead of us and then back, like a children’s swing suspended from our shoulders. My right and his left. My hand no longer trembled. Now his did.

“Dad, are you o.k?”

“Sure,” he said as he exhaled, the weight of his breath pulling both of us deeper into the ground.

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Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer
Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer

Written by Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer

Writer, Educator, Mom. Disability advocate. Dog Lover. Teaching online workshops on writing + spiritual growth. www.gabriellekaplanmayer.com

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