Emily dropped out of Humboldt State,
22 years old.

She paints fences
for money and
takes the train into the hills-
finds fireflies,
sleeps on the sand,
empties wine bottles,
can't pay her rent. It's 345.

Her apartment is small,
400 sq. feet.
Had a guy sleep over last night
in the kitchen on a blowup mattress.

She wrote about it in a journal,
the one I gave to save her
from rain, fog, and moments
like this.
Flickering sky,
distant glitter of valley stars.