Searching

It’s late.

The shadows dance as I search through hundreds of books

Hoping to find on that will take me away

All I want is an escape.

The kitten I rescued two years ago is meowing,

Kneading the blankets,

Nudging my hand.

She wants me to lay down and pet her.

And then there’s the puppy,

Also a rescue from two years ago.

As the room cools

She seeks warmth,

Stumbling over the blankets and my legs.

She has yet to master walking while half-asleep.

I doubt she ever will.

She nudges me and stumbles more

Eager to reach that safe place under the blankets.

Eventually I will join her,

Wrapping my body around hers as I fall asleep to her breathing.

But for now I keep searching,

Desperate for some sort of escape from reality.