it’s nearly the same
a constriction in the chest an ache in the sternum
but there’s no physical evidence
only energetic
she cries little tears more of a chuckle and a whimper combined I feel myself
resist it see without letting myself see
feel without letting myself feel
how does a person take in an entirely altered version of their mother
dying
becoming something I’ve never let her be before
tender lost gentle
kind?
she mentions my choice of clothing
she’s back
the world rights itself
just in time
until the next time