he comes after dark
 midst of dinner-laundry rush
 (the witching hour)
 
 gone are easy nights
 him cooking, cleaning, shopping
 short hours, slow work
 
 i sit amidst stacks
 of plans, ungraded papers
 stacks that won’t die down
 
 the girls do small chores
 to minimally help me
 cope with “overwhelmed”
 
 and i quit my class
 that would’ve taken me now
 sucked more from my life
 
 yet i’m still swimming
 in a haze of “unfinished”
 waiting for relief
 
 he takes over now
 broiling steak, washing plates
 gives me a moment
 
 i wait for one more
 one drive across the country
 to make this worth it