Protecting myself
from the outside world
is a full-time job.

I can't let it in to hurt me---
disturbing my residual peace.

My search to heal my inner core
resides within the confines
of a one bedroom apartment,

while caring people come and go
through the unlocked door,
working on "Team Jesse"
as a more-or-less cohesive crew.

Right now, there is nothing greater.
No bigger achievement
than to create my own cocoon to rest and nest a while,

knowing well that, in a finite matter of time,
reality, for all it's worth,
will take aim at my head once again.

All I can hope is that it misses the mark
as I embark on my travels, through
my unraveling thoughts,
to new horizons beyond what I can now imagine.