Screaming in the night

Sweating through tears and tremors

Racked by nightly visits

Visits of the conditional.

 

Walking through a crowded daytime

Hunched shoulders and shrouded eyes

Mouth sealed by the thoughts inside

Thoughts of the conditional.

 

Listening to him everyday

Nods of approval and shameful downward glances

Hands clenched to the sides

Holding the conditional.

 

Seeing the news every evening

Dozing off to the same stories

Mind closed to the possibility

The possibility of the conditional.

 

She would say something.

She would do something.

The conditional prodes her,

But she has muted her voice

Although she would.