Hello, my name is Taryn.
I am 24 years old.
I’ve never been married.
And I have a five year old daughter.
Being a parent is hard, especially when you are doing it alone.
I don’t know why but after the first year
I expected the nights when
She would keep me up until the wee hours
Of the morning to stop.
They haven’t.
The morning sun through the windows caresses;
Illuminating the dust
On the cold, chipped marble floor.
The incessant chill seeps through
The denim jeans that felt a little too snug
Just a few minutes before.
I bought this sweater,
Discounted but still designer,
A few days ago.
It would be a shame if I bled on it.
It was the first time I killed a man.
Just shortly after 2 am.
Three people passed by unawares.
The fourth called an ambulance.
After five minutes of chest compressions
He was declared dead six minutes before.
*
A little while later six detectives convened
a solitary meeting to discuss possible suspects.
The five who made the list were interrogated
Red
as the Big Apple, body
like Jean Harlow’s
lips.
Luxury liner
of America’s asphalt arteries.
Traded in,
gone like yesteryear,
in its place,
sits Honda;
Civic
pride in progress.
I might be going through a midlife crisis you know.
Besides, I’d really like to spend more time working on my golf game.
I want what John and Katie have. They look so happy.
And their kids seem to be okay with it.
You could go back to work.
I know you didn’t like staying at home.
Just look at Cash and Tracy.
They’ve been married twenty-five years now.
I wasn’t going to say anything but a few months ago
When I went out of town for business I slept
