Laughing

The woman’s laugh

reverberates in the small space.

The space is too small,

too small for her

loud fake laugh.

The laugh that never reaches her eyes.

The laugh that dampens the mood of her visitors.

They shrink smaller and smaller.

The plastic chairs do not offer cover,

No protection from this woman

and her laugh.

This woman they used to know.

The woman who laughs to hide the pain.

The woman who won’t tell them what they already know.

The woman who is killing herself

But hides it with a laugh.