Seven years into their marriage
her life with him is a circus
where he cracks the whip
and she walks a tightrope
every waking hour--

always afraid of losing her balance.

Once the queen of the midway
now she watches him
eyeing the ticket girls
and some even younger.

The tightrope has become
more difficult
and her fear of falling 
borders phobia

until one day she 
drops the balancing pole
on purpose
raising both hands in the air
and jumps.

But her real friends
have known all along
and are there waiting
with a net.