Maisy

She could not bring herself to cry
when she thought about
the last few months
and everything that happened.

The lamp next to the chair
was on. It was 11p.m.
She sat down and kicked off
her shoes, it startled the cat.

Maisy leaped into her lap,
circled, and nuzzled her.
She took the rings off
of her hand and set them

at the base of the lamp.
She brought her hand
softly onto Maisy's fur.
Her lungs expanded

as she inhaled deeply,
and paused before letting
the breath out. She repeated
this until her eyes began

to tear at the corners.
The drops hesitated before
allowing themselves to descend,
one by one, they became

a steady river. Maisy waited,
knowing the moment would pass,
knowing a deeper truth
that no purr could ever convey.