When Grief is Relief

His sickness smothered her
Squeezing her out of their life.
Hoarded piles and food and movies
Objects overrunning every space.

She’d lost room to live
In his life, as addictions grew.
Obsessive-compulsive, hoarding
Crowded their home and his mind.

One night, he died.
She has yet to cry.
The relief to her mind is visible
In her fore-head, free of lines.

He’d made life miserable most of the time.
Too anxious to part with anything-
As the food rotted in the fridge.
Blackened cans in the pantry…

Yet they’d shared trips,
Time away from his hoarding.
Reprieve to breathe,
'Til they returned to the piles.

Then he died in one night
And the clean up began.
Bringing light and fresh air
And her unfurrowed brow.

I saw her just now
Wearing grief and relief.
He was too sick to change
Now he’s gone and she can.