Ten.One Thousand & Sixty-Five

1. I wake up with the words from his text running through my mind.

2. It will be hot today. I forgot to water last night. Everything is thirsty.

3. I don’t have much of an appetite. I grab two soft peaches and a cup of coffee.

4. We ask him to do another hour because we need it. We need the space. We need honest conversation and laughs. To be reminded that righteous anger and joy can coexist. Neither is a threat to the other.

5. I work slowly today. Too distracted.

6. I make my decision. It feels good.

7. It’s just how I grew up. You don’t say or do anything until the pages are signed. Nothing until it’s done. It’s not real until then. But yes, I’ll hold the vision for you.

8. “I can’t scare you because you watch too many scary movies.” - 12-year-old who likes to dabble in stealth craft. (Thank you, Dyana, for passing along that term to me.)

9. There it is. I was waiting for it. But what is my responsibility in this matter?

10. I wake up. The tv is still on. Jaleesa is saying something to Maggie. A different world.