I sit with my dad at the auto shop
where he is having an alarm system
installed in the car
so that I can trigger it
from a distance if necessary

he calls my phone to check on me
more than he ever has before

it is sweet

but inside I know that he can only protect me to a certain point

he can wire my car
and call my phone
but he cannot be with me
every second
of every day

the only one who could be with me
every second
of every day
is the very one
I can’t understand