with slightly over three weeks
before the Tri-Cup Meet
I decide to work my tail off
everyone is working harder
so I have to, just to keep up

Diana comes and works on floor with me
making sure that every move
is perfect
down to my toes and fingers
because every point counts

I spend extra time at beam
mostly staring at it
willing it into submission
I am landing
my flight series
about half the time
so there’s still work to do

going to the gym
even with its questions and pressure
still feels safe to me
it’s a world I understand
a place where I am understood

and everything comes down
to
one simple score