The Same Equation

The deposit hit this morning.

I took the back of a bill

and started the equation

I could do in my sleep.

Rent. Utilities. The gap.

There is always a gap.

I drew a red circle around the same number.

Circled it again.

The circle got darker.

The number didn't grow.

Next month will be the same.

The month after that.

I'm not doing anything wrong.

I'm not spending on nothing.

This is just how much there is

and how much there isn't.

The bill got creased

from the pressure of the pen.

I folded it.

Put it in my wallet where it wouldn't get lost.

Where I could find it

and feel the same thing

all over again.