Marla might talk to Peggy about me
but Peggy will not hear her
and
will not
be able to protect her from any
intruder
invader
housebreaker
thief.
I could be a ghost.
I could be a Toffee
or a Tara
or a Clara
or a Claire
or anything else the old woman wants.
It isn’t as though Allison was ever allowed
anyway.
She could be very quiet,
almost invisible.
I have known worse compromises
than forfeiting a name.
I could stay.
No one would believe Marla
if she cried foul play.
They’d smirk and vow
to inspect the place.
They would say she was mad.
If I stayed I could take what I needed
and no one
would stop me.