Reassurance to the Puppy

you get that numb feeling

it slowly sinks in

they don't care, they don't care,

they never did

maybe what they said

maybe a word or an expression on their face

made it seem like they cared

like you did

and you clung to that word so heavily

that you molded it into a sort of strap you could hang from and

roll it around in your hands until it felt smooth

smooth and reassuring

don't worry, they do care

they're just b u s y right now

they're just t i r e d

they're just w o r k i n g