Ricochet

In the middle of the night
When my son was an infant
I'd get back into bed
Having gone to the bathroom
Or let the cat out
Half an hour later
I'd just be drifting off to sleep
And he would awaken
Something having echoed
In his mind

The night my mother died
I'd gotten up and wandered
Into the living room
I saw the light on
In her bedroom
I reached for the door handle
Thinking I'd turn off her light
Then I thought
Nah, I'll wake her up
And she'll be angry
So I went back to bed

I don't remember hearing the shot
But something
Must have echoed in my mind
As the bullet lodged in hers