i’m sitting at my kitchen table
in my home
that is no longer my home

real or not real?

sitting across from me
is my mom
my mom left this world
six years ago

real or not real?

she takes a sip of her tea
as i sip mine
and she speaks

real or not real?

she tells me she is “in-between”
she can still see things
from the other side
even though i can’t

real or not real?

i tell her
i can feel her presence
when she isn’t there

real or not real?

she looks me in the eyes
and nods
smiling,
knowingly

real or not real?

I blurt out a question
that’s been burning inside me
“how did you die?”

real or not real?

she gathers herself
as if already expecting
this question
to come

real or not real?

“i woke up choking,
there was a light.
Then everything stopped."

real or not real?

i open my eyes
back in my room
i had been sleeping.
but had i been dreaming??