Sherene

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Sherene

Marriage fell off her like a scab.
With Lloyd the ashtray was always half empty.
Sherene wanted more.
Maybe go somewhere.
See something famous.

That morning she leaned across the kitchen counter
drinking coffee from her Class of ‘99 cup
when Lloyd slammed the back door
sending the yellow clock sliding down the wall
to catch on the nail by the dog bowl.

Most days the dog went with Lloyd to the lumberyard.
Nadeen was all but engaged.
Ryan had already signed up.
Nobody needed her.
Nothing was holding her back.

Ryan and Nadeen took last syrupy bites of toaster waffles
and headed out when Lloyd honked.
Sherene poured her cold coffee
down the cluttered sink
and reached for the rent jar.

Lloyd had the pick-up so Sherene tossed Ryan’s sleeping bag,
her pocketbook and some gas station maps into the Malibu.
At the top of their road
she looked left toward the lumberyard
and cranked the car hard right.