999 Z51

she says she’s going to the clinic
won’t be back this way again
staying at her mother’s house
from this point on

to that, I didn’t reply
just picked at my nails
waited for her to throw up her hands
and leave the screen door swinging

when her car turned over
she screeched out of the drive
I watched her go
still in the clothes from last night
ran my hand through my hair
opened that screen door
considered spitting on the porch
thought of what it would mean
so I closed that loose piece
of metal
lied down on the carpet

she forgot to take the dog
he came out from the bedroom
sat beside me
started whining at the door