#29. Squeeze Out The Warm

She struggles with the stairs since her surgery,

when the surgeon fractured her femur,

so her husband does the laundry.
When it's washed and dried, he brings it up 

from the basement to the second floor.
She, in turn, neatly folds each piece,
arranging meticulous piles of washcloths, 

nightgowns, pillow cases.
He likes his T-shirts and boxer shorts rolled up,
she has a place for them, too.
The fresh-out-of-the-dryer towels are her favorites,
warm and safe, exactly like a hug.
Right now, she snuggles one against her cheek,

squeezes until the warm is gone. 

For a minute, all's right with her world.

Then she carefully folds the towel in half,

in half again, and on the shelf it goes.