unexpected company

in my empty nest
a breeze whispers
shhhh....
as leaves giggle
across concrete
outside my window

a floorboard squeaks
"mom"
stops my passage
through a hall

this afternoon
distant children's laughter
forces me
to check my watch

no snacks to fix today

just nuke a TV dinner
lock my door
turn out the lights
and tell myself
bedtime fairytales
of freedom