at the laundrymat
she was in town
helping me fold towels
i remember exactly.

said: i'm not going back
i'm staying here
and getting another job.

and she was disappointed
i could tell.

and i was crying
and she was crying
right there by the dryers.

and she lectured
and the heat wasn't coming from the dryers.

it was cold out
and me with the ratty green sweatshirt
still folding towels
with my mom.

she said: don't do something
you'll want to change your mind about
or flat out regret later
it's not easy out here
without help.

and i said that i knew
but it was time.

she was right.
it was the hardest
i've ever lived
mostly 'cause i was too proud
to ask for help.

sometimes i wonder
how different things would be
if i hadn't told her
that day
by the dryers.