someone else

that headline in the paper is always someone else’s sorrow.

those flashing lights on the television screen tells someone else’s story.

those knocks on the door that come as you’re drifting off to sleep are from the neighbor. “it must be james and julia,” you tell your husband. and you wonder what they need.

you never expect the uniformed man at the door. you know what it means.

you can’t say your loved one was killed. that implies an accident. the word is murder and it is the ultimate violence.

you read the paper, watch the news, and go on with your life.

unless the news is yours.

what do you do when you find that you are someone else?