She has time in her pocket and God on speed dial, both of which she got while dying on the kitchen floor. Now Forever is her kingdom and the only thing she fears is her daughter going to a big city with cotton-candy-clouded daydreams in hand.

It hurts, she says, for Death to take away the color in the clock. He has no forgiveness, but God gives second chances to broken women.

Instead of taking her soul, he gave it back and apologized for the wait.

She’ll outlive the diamond encrusted soccer moms, because she’s all ready seen Hell and has no desire to take up a residence. She lives her life at the bottom, laying down velvet rugs for her children to walk upon. Eggshells are better, but she doesn’t want them to hurt their feet and slice their lives like she did so many times before.

Hard times are what make us, she says, because God loves those the most that he gives the pain to. He’ll build us up when it’s done and set us up to fly with renewed albatross wings. We’ll soar without trouble and break apart the granite in our path.