my birthday is coming up
the holiday season is coming up
the pressure of . . what?
loneliness? Another year single
another year alone for the holidays
everyone is making plans with their family
its all coming up
a new year
I’m not ready
nauseous
my anxiety is coming up
out from the depth of its dark cave
where I laid it to rest
tucked it into bed
nice and tight
read it a bed time story
and sang it the sweetest lullaby I could find
I sang with all my heart
with all my sincerity
I wished it eternal rest
I watched it fall asleep
and I packed my things and left
the cave
and the
d
o
w
n
place where it resided
and today
between eating my meal
and checking my phone
it tapped my shoulder
then hugged me tight
then made its home with me
again
I’m actually never alone