August

Time keeps going without us, but we see it on our own.

Your birthday comes and goes, our would-have-been anniversary right along with it.

The bills get paid, one way or another;

I strap myself in, keep my head down and burn my way through August

adding six tasks every time I cross one off my to do list,

anything to get out on the other end without wondering what could have been,

where we would be right now if only.

I can't afford to think in terms of if only,

so I let the time move on even if I can't.