There.
Just out of reach,
A thin shelf of cheap wood.
All one can see of the floor are clear mason jars.
“These are my life.” I say to no one in particular
I look at my hand holding a jar.
Tiny letters label the front,
“Happiness”
The jar is empty.
I stare about the bare dark room.
I spot my chair (not hard to do).
I drag it under the shelf.
I step up to see the other clear jars.
I see “Pain,” “Laughter,” “Love,” and “Hate”
Among others.
Toward the back, I reach for two.
I set “Happiness” next to “Pain.”
In each hand I grasp two different emotions.
I set them in my view.
I see
“Euphoria”
And…
This one has no label!
These are my choices?
The luck of the draw.
Who knows how long I stood there
Contemplating on the rickety wooden chair.
Finally, I chose.
I grabbed the one on my left.
With a glance back at “Happiness”
I stepped off my chair, put it back in place
And left my room
Clutching the clear mason jar
That no one but I could see.