Are you there?

A question I ask myself
when I glance in a mirror,
side-eyed,
because dead eyes peer back.

Are you there?
       (Am I? Am I?)

A question I ask myself
when I wake to blue mornings,
exhausted,
unable to leave the bed.

Are you there?
       (I am here I am here)

A question I ask
when I creep through my life,
invisible,
pinned down by everything.

Are you there?
       (Am I?)

A question asked (again)
when a hand brushes against
mine,
warm and steady and there.

Am I?
       (I occupy space.)
       I am here.