Too Close

she sees them whisper by the refrigerator
no doubt discussing
her faulty driving
repeating herself
her inability to … (fill in the blank)

their heads touch
her son now bald, her daughter gray
they are not close
but this binds them
she sees this
even without her glasses

she ignores it for now
they do, too

she did the same thing with her own mother
parsing out time
allowing space before eliminating, no
diminishing her privileges
gave her the illusion she had choices
then slowly
reasoning with
her let her come to the conclusion
yes, it’s time
time to let other’s
care for her

Carrie Cantalupo Sharp writes poetry and flash fiction and has had a few pieces published in Pikes Peak and Poets Night Out. She is currently working on a hybrid chapbook. Carrie lives in rural Northern Michigan in the Bohemian Wood and loves to hike, travel and read.