I hadn’t planned on my sister.
The plan had been grandma
in the hospital
fallen again
tipsy at that intersection
of prescription and habit
I drove down
in case it was the end
she’s 96. It’s always in case of the end.
I drove down to give a few lectures
the first book ever had come out
I could say author instead of writer
I could say alive instead of dead.
I scheduled a new tattoo. A new goddess.
A friend designed. Celebrate the book.
Celebrate not giving up.
The only day I could schedule it
was the same day as leaving.
My sister was already in the car
Caged and wild and waiting to break.
She’d have time to grab food and take a walk.
She lit a joint on the street in front of a woman pushing a stroller.
I gave her money for food.
I went inside.
I…
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