How Long Does Rice Take

The pot is in the sink again.

Black at the bottom, the water around it

gone the color of an old argument—

cloudy, warm, going nowhere.

I called my mom at 10pm

to ask how long rice takes.

She didn't answer.

I stood there with the phone

above the open box,

the ringing just continuing,

and I kept standing there

like I was waiting for something else

to pick up.

Nobody's coming.

The video's still paused on the screen—

some guy's hands mid-chop,

a cutting board, a pile of onion,

the whole world halved and ready.

I ate crackers over the sink.

Flat on my palm, one at a time.

Left the phone on the counter.

Left the pot to soak.