She is speaking from inside my ear
”It consumes me. Trying to fit a middle-aged soul in this small body.
The backpack is stuffed and heavy.

There's so much to learn in a lifetime and life is so short, we must hurry.
Let's drag this burdensome bag to where it should be. (But where is that?)”

Her body is shorter than my arm, even when standing on tiptoe.
She's such an old child.

She continues
”The phone is burning my ear.
I'm sorry but
would you please stop looking at me like that?
Whatever I say or do, someone gets hurt.
I didn't ask for this backpack, but now it's pinned to my shoulders.

I'm sorry but
I need to catch my breath.
You're having me worried to death.

I didn't mean to disappoint you,
I'm the youngest mother in history and I'm doing my best.”