Time Ticking Down

Quiet as a mouse I creep in,
He’s not there.
I race around collecting my belongings,

10 minutes until he’s home

My fingers shake as I write the note

5 minutes and counting

Dump my phone in the garbage

4 minutes and 23 seconds

The ring goes on the stainless steel counter

3 minutes and 12 seconds

“I’m sorry, I love you, Stay safe.”

3 minutes… but I’m gone

He pulls up to an empty house
Looks around, sees the note
Cries, Calls, Bawls

“Where is she?”

I’m not home.

Soon no one will.
He will look for me, they all will

But I don’t want to be found