“complete”

the word “complete” frightens me
i see it alongside Facebook pictures
celebrating birthdays and newborns

it pushes the air between my lips, hard
and parted, i breathe in nervously

“what if one of your children dies?”
i wonder to myself
“would you still call your family complete?”

wincing at the naivety,
i rub my teeth together
click ‘like’
and move on