A Serious Dilemma

She is growing tired
And can see the finish line
And beyond it
Another starting line

She pretends well
Most of the time, keeps getting
Better at pretending
Hopeful that someday
Everyone will believe
That she is real
And she will be able to rest

But for now
For today
She’ll get up
And do things
And eat and walk and talk and maybe even smile
Praying that no one will see
That in the background
In the space just behind her eyes

She is counting
And humming
And not paying attention at all