Clenched

half-moon indents of fingernails 

on pink-white palm 

where her hands clench into tight, tight fists   

jaw joint aches 

where her teeth scrape against 

one another each night 

wearing a hole 

through the plastic guard meant to protect them   

flour dots spattered on her sweater 

from the chewy-gooey chocolate-chip cookies 

she will not eat, 

made just to have something to do   

bad country music playing 

cup of coffee going lukewarm, then cooler 

as she worries on 

things she cannot change