Jobs Demand Everything, Even When You're Not Emotionally Well

I told her,

Wasn't feeling it,

my head wasn’t in the game,

I knew if I showed up,

I’d be slow, offbeat,

not what you need on a busy shift.

She asked if I could come in Sunday.

Said she noticed

I missed Friday and Monday.

I told her the truth,

I wasn’t in the right space.

When my mind goes like this,

I know I won’t move

the way they want.

An hour later,

all I got was,

"Start time’s 7 p.m."

Like that’s it.

Like I didn’t just lay myself out,

real and raw.

Made me feel like I was just

a body in the lineup,

another clock-in, clock-out.

Chicago’s got cold winds,

but this?

This was colder.

They don’t care,

just want you

punching in time

like you’re some machine

that never breaks.