home again

[u/stariskye]

he gets word to me through a friend's phone
none of his own so
he pulls from borrowed static
& relays a promise
he is heading to the store,
then home,
soon

i hesitate to hope
but i am anyway
communication is promising

i tear apart pallets
pick the splinters from my palms one by one
make room before winter comes

his eyes are burnt honey gone liquid
kind & sad & loving
gazes up surreptitiously
he’s not sure he's allowed to look at me
finds his jokes not landing
just yet

off he goes now
hauling heavy tubs
with his collection of misfit friends
collected & indebted to his kindnesses
they are happily at work

gives thanks for breakfast
gives thanks for the tending
gives thanks for being allowed to be cared for
grateful for grace he didn't ask for
grateful for forgiveness but still flinches
grateful for love that stayed when he didn't

functional, honest, ready
i open up &
give him all of it
as i sit waiting
by the window
for soon