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His Standards

I sat on Paul’s bed while using the phone.
Speaking to my husband, 
I had no fear of being alone,
only the angst of being with someone,
simply,
to assuage my loneliness.
This room with its mis-matched set;
discards from a former life.
All the things his wife no longer valued.
I hung the phone and fluffed the bed
never wanting to lie there again.
I seem to value my husband, 
most,
when others don’t meet his standards.