from the beginning
a fractured sleep
pain with no origin
curse of being a female
a 40-min car ride of a wailing toddler
the incessant ‘whys’
another morsel
or a sip of water
brush your teeth
two minutes
a nappy change
a story read
a chapter read
some emails replied
some texts too
too many people
too many conversations
still smiling
nodding
righteous anger when needed
but the pain
oh curse it
now so tired
last story before bed
dishes washed
some notes made
a few connections severed
and reframed
checking in
is this the straw
that breaks my back?
To live or to exist 