Notice

The notice is in clean sans-serif font.

Six months. A highlighted date.

I wasn't shocked. I've been waiting

for this. The building is being sold.

My hands were shaking

when I opened it. The apartment

suddenly felt like it wasn't mine.

I'd always known I'd have to part

from here. I start looking.

Craigslist. The same neighborhoods.

The same prices climbing. Nothing booking.

The market's a closed loop.

Six months to find somewhere.

Six months to pack up my things.

Six months until I go nowhere.

Six months until everything changes.

The notice sits on my table

next to the bills. Both unstable

reminders that I don't belong.

That I never did for long.