She let the sway of the workday move her
as people all around dictated where she went,
what she did there, and for how long.

She followed the crowd of “friends” to a bar
in which she had no interest, and made
small talk while snacking on chips.

She rushed herself back to the car,
counting on both hands the errands she
had yet to complete, while calculating
how long she might be able to sleep tonight.

She did it all, then she barreled through her
bedroom door, collapsed on the bed,
and took the deepest breath she might have
ever taken.

She felt it in her chest, her brain, her fingertips,
and all the way in the soles of her feet.
She let the relief flood her body as,
for the first time all day,
she was still.