pennies

"isn't it quite obvious?" he asks.
"no. what," she stares at her hands.
"all of these things we flit around for our whole lives,
they are the very things keeping us alive."
"what do you mean, 'flit'?"
"i mean, this. look, we try so hard... to do something.
anything. and when we get tired, we do what is important."
"so," she looks up, scratches her neck, pulls on her hair, "so
what is important to you?"
"this."
"this? what- this? jesus-"
"this right now. this is important."
he opens his palms.
they are cracked and espresso-stained.
they are sweating.
he says, "give me your hands."