It's 8 a.m. and the morning sunlight creates a golden glow across my kitchen.
The aroma of coffee tempts my nose and I pour a cupful with plenty of milk and sugar.
I sit at the table embraced by the warmth of the yellow light and read the newspaper.
The silence is pleasantly disturbed by my children waking up.
My girls cautiously creep down the carpeted stairs, check over the banister-
They are welcomed by my relaxed smile and enter the kitchen.
By 10 a.m. I am making them chocolate chip pancakes and everything is all right with the world again.
The girls risk eating their sweet meals in the sterile living room while we watch TV.
By noon I have the nerve to call my best friend who wants to come over for lunch.
I doodle on the grocery list that has milk and sugar thickly underlined twice at the very top.
We leisurely stay on the phone for over an hour before I tell her I really should go,
Maybe we will get together tomorrow and by 2 p.m. I have made plans.
I think about taking my girls to play in the park, but I had better start cleaning.
I unlock the stereo cabinet and put a record on- my girls help me clean while we sing and dance loudly.
By 4 p.m. we are delirious with freedom.

6 p.m.
garage door goes up
body tenses
mental list of priorities
children outside
dinner ready
table set
evidence hid
He stumbles in
drove home drunk again
brace for the reprimands
"Is my laundry done you pathetic cow?"
the pushes
"You used the phone today didn't you?"
the slaps
house grows dark
self
gone