skulls all around, a person in the middle

since when did i become a therapist?
the paychecks have not yet arrived
yet i am doing work
i'd like to think of it as
SOUL work
for everyone but myself.

how can this be?

how do i look him in the eyes
after pouring all of my
devotion and compassion
into other people's
crumbling relationships

he feigns understanding
but does he?
can he?
does he know what i am
listening to come out of
these people's mouths?

it's heartwrenching
and i cry and i get angry
with them and FOR them
and it's as though this
SHOULD be my job.

except it's not.
these are friends.
and this is real.

and i never EVER
want to have to be
the one to MAKE these
kinds of phone calls.

i don't.