Empty Motel Mornings

Sun through the curtain Phone says eight-ten Didn't sleep much Still gotta

move

Coffee tastes burnt in a paper cup

Parking lot cold, sky opening up

Lady at the desk says,

“Have a good day” I nod like I know what that means

anyway

Check my account, check how much gas

Check the mirror, don't look too fast

Yesterday felt like changing my life Today feels like figuring out where

to eat tonight

Map on my phone,

blue lines everywhere Could go east,

west, honestly don't care

Kept waiting for something to pull at my chest Some voice saying,

“This way, this one's best” Nothing

Just traffic

Engines People going places Guess everybody looks sure

From far enough away

No sign coming

No light turning green

No voice from the sky

Telling me what this means

Maybe that's the part

Nobody talks about

You choose a road

Before you figure it out

I don't feel ready I don't feel brave

But I didn't leave Just to wait

So I turn the key And pull away No sign coming I

move anyway

Pass a gas station,

fill what I can

Grab cheap food and a bottle in hand

Guy next pump got kids in the back Everybody carrying something they

don't unpack

I used to think change had a sound Big doors closing,

walls coming down But maybe it's quiet,

maybe it's small Maybe it's getting up after nothing changes at all

Maybe starting over ain't a clean reset

Maybe you drag every lesson you haven't learned yet

Maybe hope ain't feeling good inside

Maybe hope is simply choosing not to hide

So I pick a highway

No reason why

Just one that runs

Past the edge of the sky

I keep asking

What if I'm wrong?

What if this road

Just makes everything longer?

Then another thought comes through—

What if staying would've done the same?

No sign coming

No perfect time No hand reaching down Drawing me a line Maybe

that's the part I'm learning now You choose a road Then figure

it out I don't feel ready

I don't feel brave But I didn't leave

Just to wait So I hit the ramp Let the engine raise

No sign coming I move anyway

Signal clicks

Mirror check

One breath

Merge

Morning traffic swallows me And I keep going