The doctor is ancient
and I don’t think
she can hear me
when I say, my columna
vertebral is on
the outside now.
She asks, do you like
caring for the baby?
I nod. Yes. I love
caring for the baby.
And then I whisper.
But how long
can a woman live
with her spine
on the outside.
It hurts so bad,
I can’t even cry.
Good news, the doctor
tells me, staring at
her notes. You don’t
have depression.