in my defense,
i have paid off most my debts
with a single unpaid parking ticket left.
my room belonged to me,
forty five hours a weeks
committed to new
friendships, redefined spaces,
new boundaries and new recipes.
and on the week's end,
i bit my nails off
until we turned off valley circle.
i grabbed the hand of my passenger
excited about remembering
what makes
this all
worth
it.