Couch

pnina wore a blanket reading books on the couch

pnina's legs were folded fingers clasped to her mouth

she thought

she'd go to sleep and dream

in photographs

her brother josh in his pajamas lay on the floor

playing chess he knew what all the pieces were for

he lay there

losing to himself

on purpose

they thought in languages nobody understood

they hadn't eaten they were trying to be good

instead

despite their pains they had become

perfection