I could hear it in her voice

On the other end of the phone, an unspoken sigh

When I told her my plans

She said a soft okay

But I don’t know that she understands

Ten years ago I cut the ties

Amazing how fast the time goes by

I had thought about it, talked of it for years

My husband encouraged me to apply

My mid-thirties nears

There’s an open road, an opportunity ahead

She was there at the fork, in a sense

In my defense, homemaking was never on my mind

There won’t be a stork

No pink bow or blue pacifier

There’s a different path I desire

And I’m okay with that

I feel she’s a bit sad as she passes the baton

But I still honor her

Soon this decade will be gone

It’s something I’m opting to forgo

In pursuit of something else

She should not lose hope

I’ll still take the baton

And do the best I can for those who are here and those who are to come