She lives nearby.

You see her often, but keep your distance…
Something about her makes you nervous.
Today she shows up at your door
Asking if she can come in.
She’s locked out of her house, and it’s storming.
She doesn’t wait for an answer, just comes in.
Sits beside you on your sofa like she’s been here before.

She begins to whisper in your ear,
“Now. Not later, not tomorrow… now.”
Uncomfortable, you turn on the TV.

She leans in and speaks a little louder,
“You know that thing you’re so afraid of…I think you should do it.”
She’s rude, interrupting your favorite program,
And you have no idea what she’s talking about…
But you can’t help noticing, she smells like fresh rain.

She winks, “C’mon…you won’t die.”
Nothing she says makes sense,
So you turn away, turn up the volume.

She’s shouting now, right in your face.
“Stop making excuses! Nowwww!”
You get up and leave the room.

But she follows you, rushing aggressively through the doorway.
She starts rearranging furniture…she breaks your favorite lamp!
“You just wouldn’t listen,” she says as she shoves a table out of her way.

You stare, confused and angry.
You didn’t invite her, and now she’s moving your things?
This is your life, and you’ve worked hard to decide where it all belongs!
You like things the way they are.

But as you look at this crazy woman, you notice she’s smiling-
A spark in her eyes, like she knows a secret.
She’s…radiating.
You’re so taken aback that you stop glaring,
And without thinking, grab the end of a heavy sofa,
Grudgingly helping her empty your space.

You suddenly realize you were so surprised by her arrival
That you didn’t ask her name.
“Change,” she answers.
What kind of name is that?
You’d think she made it up,
If it hadn’t rolled off her tongue
In that sure way that only truth does.
She sets down a table, starts dancing,
As if a beautiful song had just begun.
You don’t hear anything, and you frown.

She stops—looks you in the eye,
With a look that says silently, “Your move”.
But instead of asking her to leave,
Because she’s clearly unstable
and you’d like to get back to your plans,
…Sweep the glass from the carpet and return to your sofa.
You feel an inexplicable urge
To embrace her,
Maybe even dance with her.

Because here in the still, quiet space,
You can’t help but notice,
Change…is beautiful.

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Editor: Emily Bartran

Photo: Author’s Own