Nurse of the Heart

I'm working a friend. She is variously my childhood friend Nancy or a more recent acquaintance Kristi. She needs help. She needs me every day. I listen to her with a very detached presence. I just listen. I give her nothing of my self. Someone comments on how I keep myself separate and I know that it is the only thing I can do in the circumstances. I hear that Kristi is suicidal, threatening to kill herself. I just listen with the same detached thoughts. I cannot get pulled into this.

I'm walking through a locker room. I want to practice yoga. I don't have access to the gym, but if I can find a pair of shoes that fit here I can go in. I'm not supposed to go in, I'm looking to borrow shoes that won't be missed. All of the clothing is on hangers with names and plaques that tell something about the person. I can't bring myself to take them. The hooks I could use are all empty.

I'm ready to leave this place and someone is coming in as I turn to leave. They say to me "you look like a nurse." I laugh and say "nurse of the heart" as I leave the locker room.