His voice like a fine wine in the morning
even at 6 am, he is able to give me reassurance
that all is well, though I feel beaten and blue
by the day I just left behind.

Not far down the hall, the kids lay in slumber
bodies feeding on sweet dreams,
preparing for another day.
We tiptoe around the house being sure
not to wake them, as this is our only time alone.

Thirty minutes, a cup of coffee,
and a little conversation between us is all
I get for now. I see him out the door,
standing in the open until he is no longer in my sight.

I slip from house shoes back into a bed for two,
yet this time I lie alone trying to find his warmth
that was there only moments before.

I remember what he said to me as he kissed me goodbye...
"It won't always be this way baby,
one day we will be able to live on 5 days instead of 7"

This thought, and his smile carry me back to dream.