It’s so close yet I never go…
The apartment is small
and reeks of stale cigarettes.
The walls are lined from floor to ceiling
with precious treasures all within arms reach.
Her favorite chair faces the television
split into four screens
that watch the in’s and out’s
of her buildings entrance.
A small glass plate sits on a small table
over flowing with cigarette butts.
The filters are all lined
with traces of red lipstick.
She tells me about her ex’s and
how she lived in a women’s
shelter at my age.
She pulls out her wedding albums
and asks me to look
through them.
“This one was in the 60’s when I married my cousin David.”
“Wow you look so beautiful.”
She read me passages from the bible
and we drink tea poured in cups
that were buried under old papers
in her china cabinet.
Discussions of conspiracy theories
over dusty green tea.
She told me about a man
she had met the day before
outside of Tim Horton’s.
They shared a laugh
over a Benson and Hedges.
He worked as a manager at the Metro
at College Park and told her
to come in and get some coupons.
She pilled me up before I left with
bags full of bags
and some tattered clothing
hoping that I could give it
to women in need.
I walked with her to College Park
where we ate a bagel
and waited for Frank.
“ I want to have an affair with him” she laughed.
Frank came and gave us some coupons.
I thank him for
helping my aunt.
I told her how funny she is …
She replied, “ many people tell me I should have my own TV
show”.
We both laughed.
