Gnarled fingers gently separate
the tissues because
3 ply is too thick.
A painful deconstruction of layers:
2 ply here
1 ply there
before the reassembly
into neat piles.
Crisscrossed
ends folded under
neat and perfectly aligned;
gently encouraged back into the box
sentinels waiting until needed.
I never understood why it mattered
it drove me crazy
until Covid 19 and scarcity meant
appreciating what you have,
being aware of what you need,
using only what you have to.
I count squares of toilet paper
thinking of those tissues,
my eyes fill with tears
that I wipe away with two squares instead of 3.