At the Other End of a Wire

When he called, there were 261 emotions

at play. I thought there were only wistfulness,

humiliation, and mere bitterness left, but lo,

I see now the brilliance in the numbers.

Emotions 75 and 78 made me happy just to know

they existed. I felt less alone, more impervious.

I was emboldened by the existence of 152.

Though, how was I supposed to accept 9, 14, and 179?

We deserved better, distress and indigence aside.

Something about 260 broke the spell inside me

and offered up a tiny shift: I opened my eyes in the fog

and tore off the surfaces of 261 and 4 with a great shout.