Unraveling Strap

A nylon strap frays, slow

caught on the rough edge

of the café table.

Fingers fumble, unsteady,

the plastic card-holder slips,

a weak clasp letting go.

Strands pulled loose

like thoughts unraveling

in a half-spoken sentence.

The cheap weave

splitting under pressure,

threadbare, stretched too thin.

The lanyard hangs by a thread,

necklace of brittle ties,

a quiet struggle

caught in everyday friction,

breaking in plain sight.