Sasha

A car idles

In a crowded, Saturday afternoon parking lot

Faceless people pass by the windows

And the three, teary eyed

Occupants stare

Straight ahead

Motionless

My mother cradles

A black, dogless collar in her hands

And whispers to herself

He was such a good boy

Repeating the mantra over and over

Believing that if she

Repeats it enough, she

Won't have to regret

The decision she made that morning

My sister and I twitch

In the backseat, wondering why

Mommy won’t tell us

What’s making her so upset.