There are wars everywhere and the weather is frightening lately.
So let me remind you of the ways in which you’re cared for:
You are cared for when you’re let in on:
Secrets, silences and annual sales.
You are cared for in these questions:
Shall I drop you home? Have you eaten? Do you want me to wait? Shall I come with you? Want water? Is there someone with you right now? Where does it hurt? Should I bring food? Let me carry that? How is your mother? Have you reached? Want this? How are you, really? Have you eaten? Are you still hungry?
And these answers:
Yes, don’t worry. No, don’t worry. Thanks, but please don’t worry.
And food:
Tea with sugar just like you take it, your mother’s recipe in a WhatsApp message with wrong spellings and vague proportions, pickle in a repurposed bottle of jam, eggs at 3 AM.
And jokes:
That hold intimate knowledge of the past, the present, the future, your behaviour on August 4th 1992.
Jokes that are not made even though they hang in the air- waiting to be used.
Insensitive jokes that remind you that you’re loved despite your ways or may be even for your ways.
And photographs:
Photographs taken by someone who loves you well enough to make you look beautiful because this is how they see you.
You are cared for when you’re photographed in your sleep, in your besan and milk face mask, in a swimsuit where your love handles pop but your face is soft with pleasure- you’re lucky enough to be known when you are yourself.
And you’re truly cared for in assurances, like these:
It’ll be ok. You’ll be ok. I’m outside, open the door. I’m bringing food. I’ll handle it. Come, I’m home. Sleep, I’ll wake you up when it’s time.
