Patience, he told her
Her Uncle, the day he loaned her the pistol
You need to get to know a weapon first
before you use it
So she practiced for weeks
at his farm
lining up soda cans on a fence
learning how to stand
legs shoulder width apart and
how to squeeze the trigger
slow, but firm
She had time to let her feelings change too
from heartbreak into resolve.
Patience, she told him
her Ex, that afternoon when he opened his back door
This will only take a moment
she didn't lie.