Long Day

It's been a long day

The door shuts behind me

The elastic holding my hair captive slides off, allowing the strands to freefall

I ascend the staircase and begin disrobing... slowly

Absorbed in every second, treating the present like the gift it is

My shoes stand by the door

My jacket slouches over the handrail

My blouse, smooth as silk, rises up over my head and floats down to where the steps await

My skirt slips off, like a thief in the night

The faucet turns, I feel the water running through my fingers

My panties, the ones that hug my hips just so, reluctantly slide down past my curves onto the floor

My bra releases its death grip... and I am free!

The tub beckons me to enter — who am I to refuse it?

I dip my feet in, slowly... right foot... left foot

Lower... deeper... until my whole body is submerged in water

Slowly but surely, my day melts away

Into the forgiving water, the forgetting water

The silence brings comfort, comfort brings peace

I am one with this water

All else fades out of existence