We the Jury

My drama lies entirely … in my being conscious that each one of us believes himself to be a single person. But it’s not true….
—LUIGI PIRANDELLO
And whoever makes up the story makes up the world.
—ALI SMITH

I see their final days
in empty rooms
in that city
I left. See
their days as empty
rooms I left—
empty because I left.

She’s gone, but she had a good life, mom said. It’s OK to be sad.