By: Kimberly Potter Kendrick

She doesn’t like me
How do I know?
The look in her eye
The heard but unanswered words
Unkind actions calling out my pain

She doesn’t like me
I’m just a few minutes of her twelve hour shift
Pennies in her paycheck
She digs the knife deep
My tears unhidden, streaming down my cheek

She doesn’t like me
But I say nothing
I know not of her
I know not of her anguish
What happens when she clocks out
What makes her so hardened

She doesn’t like me
I will pray for her
I ask myself why
Only wasted time
The truth doesn’t matter
Maybe it’s the day
Reasonably her back hurts
Maybe her best friend passed away

She doesn’t like me
I will not retort in anger
I will look into her eyes
I will smile
Say a kind word

She doesn’t like me
Is it only me?
Is it the day?
Will the me be someone else tomorrow?
I have no answers, only questions
I wonder momentarily

She doesn’t like me
Perhaps I remind her of mother
Only a moment in the passage of time
My time to dwell has come to an end
She doesn’t like me
I’m not certain if I like her