He worked late last night
and my mind started to creep
like it always does
like a spider
into the shadows
imagining
the worst
the phone call
the knock on the door
I know what would happen
I’ve invented it so many times
I would crumple
like a girl with no bones
and for the first few minutes
I wouldn’t cry
I wouldn’t believe it
the grief too hot to touch
begging my mind to shatter
this moment
unwilling to accept
that so much light
can end.