Openings in my day are filled by
theme songs,
buttercup petals and flying dandelion seeds,
waxy low-fat cheese,
the frustration of the cat under the bed.
Small confused exchanges of warmth when saying goodbye,
familiar moments,
like brothers and sisters from another life,
who only pretended to run away from home.

Julia Travers is a writer, teacher, and artist living in Virginia. See more of her work at jtravers.journoportfolio.com.
Illustration by Paul Hostetler