Slowly standing
With her walker
On a heat dome day.
"Are you doing alright?" I asked as I passed
And she immediately,
urgently shook her head "NO"
White whisps loose under her hand and bent over like a cane.
My mind prepared to get her water or walk her home or even something more extreme when she said
"My daughter and granddaughter passed away a few days ago and I am just beside myself."
"I'm so sorry. That's devestating." And more sincere, useless words said.
"THIRTY-ONE YEARS OLD." She said with anger at the injustice as she slowly walked away.