No chance Ella’s grey hair br ever can be covered with dye br nor love be found br at 52. br One date after the other. br Suddenly her gums became infected br the left side of her face blown up br and then she called me br desperate to know br how to proceed br someone had gotten her br social security number br ordered a $1,300 piece of furniture br and three credit cards in her name. br Her parents in Florida begging br Ella to join them br an only child now br the son killed in a car accident at 17. br Her friend Sarah told me, “Must be something wrong br with her. A pretty woman br but men run from her. I want to help br but don’t know how.” br Ella called my sister saying how lonely br she felt, that Sunday morning, so br my sister invited her for coffee br at the bagel place. br Silence, finally br Ella bursting into tears br saying, “Thank you, thank you.” br Six billion souls br impossible br and the Buddha’s truth hard to swallow br the years of meditation not enough br suffering in every breath br until a ton of earth br suffocates the pain.