Every morning, never failing,
Auntie May hobbled across the street
to her grocery store.
She bought her items for the day
and talked to Freddy,
the young grocery clerk.
He’s the only worker who’ll talk to her;
he’s her only human interaction.
This week she’s been ill and has stayed home.
She doesn’t want to get anyone else sick.
She looks over at her grocery store longingly
as she pets her cat.
“You’re my only friend and it’s because I feed you.”
There’s a knock at her door.
She gasps.
It’s Freddy with her groceries.