BOOTS BY THE DOOR

Boots by the door means you're staying tonight
Keys in the bowl, porch burning bright
You can drop that road and whatever it's for
If your boots are by the door

Rain drew rivers down the screen
She showed up wearing somebody else's jeans
Mascara shadow, suitcase small
Didn't say his name; didn't have to at all
Mama moved coats from the kitchen chair
Set down coffee and left us there
She stared at the floor like it held the words
I let the old clock be the only thing heard
Then she pulled off one mud-stained boot
Set it by mine, but left on number two
Half of her wanted a safe place to land
Half still waited for him to understand

No questions now
No choosing sides
Just one dry room
And one long night

Boots by the door means you're staying tonight
Keys in the bowl, porch burning bright
You can drop that road and whatever it's for
If your boots are by the door

Sun found bruises she tried to hide
Mama saw them and sat beside
No big speech, no anger thrown
Just, “You don't have to go back alone”
She made one call from the hallway phone
Voice shook hard, but the words held strong
By noon, both boots stood side by side
And that little suitcase opened wide
Months later, laughter filled that room
New work badge and a different perfume
Those boots still carry one rain-dark scar
Proof that leaving can be the bravest part

I thought the open door
was the rescue.
It wasn't.
Her decision to stay
was the first step out.

Boots by the door means you're safe tonight
Keys in the bowl, every window bright
You can drop that fear and whatever it's for
Leave your boots by the door

Both of them.