the screen door is open.
mrs grey has walked up the hill.
she is standing very tall.
my mother is speaking to her.
they are talking about me.
attention is the issue.
not enough from me in class.
her face is stern and cold.
i have done something terrible.
my mother is speaking to her.
she is talking about my siblings.
attention is the issue.
not enough from her at home.
her back is very straight.
i have done something terrible.
my mother is looking at me.
she is asking me to come to her.
mrs grey is looking at my mother.
i am looking up at mrs grey.
i am looking up at my mother.
mrs grey is solid as steel.
her eyes are dark warm brown.
i cannot read her expression.
my mother says mrs grey is worried.
this is a problem for us.
i have somehow tricked mrs grey.
my mother is suffering for it.
i have done something terrible.
my mother asks if i am okay.
yes.
she asks if i'm having a hard time.
i don't know.
if the babies are making me lonely.
no.
she asks again.
yes.
mrs grey is looking at my mother.
her face is a cold sharp knife.
have i done something terrible?
the screen door is still open.
behind mrs grey, the sun shines.
my mother's shadow protects me.
mrs grey and my mother are talking.
neither woman looks at me.
i am no longer needed.
i disappear into the house.
the screen door closes loudly.
the wooden door closes loudly.
i have done something terrible.
mrs grey has walked down the hill.
at least she tried.
Mar 23
Mar 23, 2026 at 1:39 AM UTC
the screen door is open.
mrs grey has walked up the hill.
she is standing very tall.
my mother is speaking to her.
they are talking about me.
attention is the issue.
not enough from me in class.
her face is stern and cold.
i have done something terrible.
my mother is speaking to her.
she is talking about my siblings.
attention is the issue.
not enough from her at home.
her back is very straight.
i have done something terrible.
my mother is looking at me.
she is asking me to come to her.
mrs grey is looking at my mother.
i am looking up at mrs grey.
i am looking up at my mother.
mrs grey is solid as steel.
her eyes are dark warm brown.
i cannot read her expression.
my mother says mrs grey is worried.
this is a problem for us.
i have somehow tricked mrs grey.
my mother is suffering for it.
i have done something terrible.
my mother asks if i am okay.
yes.
she asks if i'm having a hard time.
i don't know.
if the babies are making me lonely.
no.
she asks again.
yes.
mrs grey is looking at my mother.
her face is a cold sharp knife.
have i done something terrible?
the screen door is still open.
behind mrs grey, the sun shines.
my mother's shadow protects me.
mrs grey and my mother are talking.
neither woman looks at me.
i am no longer needed.
i disappear into the house.
the screen door closes loudly.
the wooden door closes loudly.
i have done something terrible.
mrs grey has walked down the hill.
at least she tried.
memory of a lonely child.
we were never close. i didn't like mrs grey. i was afraid of her.
she didn't have to check on me. i learned later that she technically broke the law to confront my mother and try to help me. i know now as an adult she was extremely concerned by my behaviour, with good reason, and was afraid for my safety.
love can be many different things.
