Taking care

I lay in bed in the wee small hours, wishing that the clocks would stop.

I lay in bed, awake, listening to the absence of sounds. To finally no coughing in the room down the hall. No clank of the bunk bed, someone climbing down, stumbling blearily into the bathroom. No cat meowing, looking for late night water and company. No fire horn wailing, or snow plow blades scraping, or raccoon foraging.

I lay there tangled up together with quilts and limbs, and wished that everything could stay like this, for just a little while longer.

Quiet, cared-for children sleeping, satisfied. Not needing me, at this hour.

Someone speculated recently about what it is I do all day.

I say: I spend all day taking care. And afterwards, I have a few dark, calm hours to myself, wishing that the clocks would stop.

For maybe just a little while.

More tomorrow. Thanks for reading.

tt