so, how is everything?

if i  told my mother

i cut

my hand,

or

broke my leg

or lost

my job,

or that i was getting

a divorce.

she'd start crying.

suddenly

it was about soothing

her,

comforting

her.

getting her to pull

herself

together.

the spotlight back

on her.

i'd calm her down

but learned

over time

to answer, when

she asked how everything

was,

just fine.

just fine.