under the cap

He told me he was losing his hair
I feigned surprise
Kindness disguised
Though the patchiness was obvious
I stroke his scalp as he lay on my chest,
Mother and 30-year-old man child
He lies on my body
He lies to my face
I tell my friends I like his quiet
He communicates nothing except his distaste for deep conversations about feelings
And empty compliments
About how much he loves my body

Emma Sarah is a Brooklyn-based writer who has been journaling and telling stories for as long as she can remember. She writes essays and poems that dive into emotions and the raw details of life. Writing, for her, is a way to process and to connect, and it remains her favorite way to make sense of the world.