i'm going now

i'm going away for awhile,

she says,
bags at her feet,
a cab idling out front

in the cold wind.

where to, I ask her.
sitting in
a chair

with the cat in my lap.

i'm not sure. maybe my sister's
or a hotel.

how long?

I don't know that either.
I just need to get
away.

I stroke the cat as it purrs,
it's tail
straightening, her
back arched
in a blissful
just scratched sort of way.

good, good for you, I tell
her.
take all the time you need.
in fact,
no need to come back.

i'll send the rest of your few
things
when you get to wherever
you're going.

that might be best for
all of us.
oh, and do you mind closing
the door
on your way out,

I've got the cat here in
my lap.