just the start of it

she had drank

too much

whiskey. so did i, but

it was late,

too late for her to drive home.

i helped her

up the stairs

into the other room,

then took off her shoes.

i left the hall light

on, and placed

a chair in front of the steps

in case she arose

in the middle of the night

and forgot where

she was.

i went to my room

and closed door.

in the morning, after

coffee,

she was gone.

but that was just 

the start of it.