The Pin

The door squeaks.

It's been squeaking for months

at the exact angle where the hinge

wants to give.

This morning I had to shoulder it.

The shower was running.

Someone needed it closed.

It stuck. I heard the pin rattle.

A small sound. Metal on metal.

The sound of something

coming loose.

I didn't fix it.

I just stood there with my shoulder

against the wood, holding it shut,

listening to the rattle inside the frame.

The whole thing barely holding.

The rust is starting at the connection point

where the hinge meets the door,

where two pieces of metal

are supposed to move together smoothly

but now they're grinding.

I pushed the door closed.

It stayed. For now.

Everything stays until it doesn't.

The pin will fall out eventually.

The door will stop closing.

And I'll stand here with my shoulder

against empty space,

wondering when I stopped fixing things

and started just holding them in place.