Katie's Relapse

the cramps, started
at school, they
sharpened, biting
into her stomach,
her agony easy
for the teacher to see.

Her mom rushed
into the classroom,
Katie
now writhing on the
floor.

"I coulda called 911,
but, I don't know,
I knew
you'd want to get her
yourself, so..I called
you."

Jen dialed instead, not
trusting herself to drive,
not feeling she could
get Katie out,
not able to breathe
herself, the dust
from the country road
deep in her throat.

it was the poison again,
she knew,
like the doc said,
it might happen,
and her child's face
now white-white, her lips,
bloodied,
her heart
racing.
Oh no, not again.