This Sunday Afternoon

Written by Chloe Zonis, Edited by Kristen Gregg

Jane Doe by Kalysta Donaghy-Robinson

This Sunday Afternoon 

I retire upon a bench 

In a park across the street 

From my childhood home 

I sit beside a woman 

Old in age 

Rubbing a name carved in the wood 

Letters dedicated to 

A partner, a father, a son 

Illegible and small 

It’s my husband’s 

She explains 

We met on this bench 

I apologize for her loss 

Things find ways of wearing themselves down 

I remind her 

I try to resist  

Refusing endings 

She weeps to herself 

I wonder if I should go home 

Find my mother 

Give her a hug 

The woman grabs my arm 

Her tears turn to laughter 

She hangs smiles of pastimes in the air 

It’s funny 

She croaks 

He always made fun of me for being a hypocrite 

Then she ups and leaves 

And I rub her husband’s small memorial 

Familiarizing myself with his name 

Recognizing it as my own