Steeling myself,
I take another night-time phone call;
number withheld;
inevitably police or medical staff.
I slip back into autopilot
the way one might slip into a comfy old jacket.
There will be many more
before the night is over.
I wish the calls would go away.
I wish they wouldn’t always necessitate
handling life or death situations
when I’ve had no sleep
and it’s dark outside.
Always, always, when it’s dark!
I deal with the emergency,
wondering how many more times
you’re going to escape with your life,
and how many more dramatic dark nights
will be added to my trauma.







