3 a.m.

At 3 a.m. I awake

to silence and open my eyes,

it takes a second to

adjust to the dark,

and a few more

hours until sunrise.

An injured back

means I carefully

get out of bed,

I feel the floor

with my foot,

making sure to miss

the book I’ve read.

Upright I stand with

some degree of pain,

cross to the window

and look out

to see has it rained.

None the wiser

I head down the stairs

switch on a light

which illuminates

the room like a bright flare.

Afraid to sit down

in case I get stuck

I lean against the wall

cursing my luck.

How can I tell her

what I have done wrong?

that it was lies

I had told her all along.