There's this lady
She works at the gas station down the street from my mother's house and when you walk in, she'll always ask how you are doing with a smile

I know this may be a formality
but her tone of voice tells me otherwise
I tell her I'm alright
and I ask how she's doing
She says all is well and thanks me for asking

Sometimes
I hate that such a weighted question is asked out of formality
Because when she asks how I'm doing
some days, I wanna tell her
"I'm glad you asked, I'm not having a very good time. And I know you are not a therapist but the how are you's in my life are mostly rethorical"

Mostly, people don't care how you are
They wanna know you're doing well enough to continue their days without inconvenience
So I've been practicing my I'm alright's to sound convincing enough
But today, I'm glad you asked

In truth, I'm one chip away from breaking apart
We do so well with pretending we're alright
We hold back a mountain of problems with thread
Waiting for the right person to allow us room to let go

I've realized
Everyone doesn't always need advice
Some people just need to know they are heard
So I'm listening a lot more than I talk
I ask questions more often than I give answers
And I'm honest when people ask how I'm doing
Because sometimes that question in the right tone with a nice smile is all that's needed to remind me,
I'll be alright