Tomorrow

I'd fly to Brussels to give my friend a moment

to breathe

to walk alone

to finish the screenplay

she is writing

away from living out of a suitcase

a long term guest in the home

of a friend

her life on hold

while caring for her octgenerian mom

a refugee of the Ukraine war

homeless now

semi paralyzed

possible Alzheimer's

definite dementia

PTSD

paranoia;

Or to DC

to give my friend a moment

to breathe

to walk alone

to finish the book she is writing

away from the daughter

she cannot leave alone

lest she succeed

in ending the life

she finds unbearable

in her skin

she was born Christy

but knows herself to be

Mark

and my friend does all she can

to support

to get Mark help

as they try

to find their way

to where they're meant

to be;

Or to the Mediterranean

to relax on a boat

with my husband

so he can breathe...

though he may

vacillate between

the joy of being

where he most loves

and the sorrow

of so many yesterdays

so few tomorrows

so few pleasures

left for him

now...

Maybe I'd just stay home

as planned

water the garden

-it's allowed on Wednesdays-

run on the treadmill

work on my lines

for my acting class

read a few stories

on Prose

a chapter in my book

write a line or two

or ten

alone in my house

where I can breathe.