Departure

Martha

 

I try to leave through

the front

            door.

 

I am as

            quiet

                        as I can be.

 

Yet her grandmother

            awakes.

 

            She says,

                                    Where are you going, Siena?

I pause.

            My hand is frozen on the door knob.

She suspects.

 

            I say,

                                    I would like to go for a walk. It’s a nice night.

I smile reassuringly.

           

                        She frowns.

 

                                    I hold my breath.

 

She says,

                        I guess that will be okay. I’ll join you.

 

No.

 

            I say,

                                    No, let me go alone.

 

She doesn’t listen.

                        She tries again,

                       Oh, come on, honey. Let your

dear old nana come with you.

 

            I glare.

                        She won’t let me go.

I say okay.

            She walks ahead of me.

                        I lift up my hand,

                                    her hand,

           and I

 

            hit

                        ‘Nana’.

 

I hit her head.

            She falls.

                        I drag her to the sofa.

                                     

            I

                        leave.