& they said, calling into the night
arms held up up up to the horizon
the sun passing through their skin
glowing terribly terribly terribly –
red, red red golden yellow yellow
do you remember how yellow it –
was? do you remember how you
smiled with your bloodstained te-
-eth glowing & vandalized, spray
painted in midnight blood, and t-
-hen your smile. your smile. you
smiled, then, brilliant. terrified.-
so terrified. you smiled, yes, but
behind you i could see Death wi-
-th her hands clawed into scythes
and a grimace because who wou-
-ld enjoy killing the brightest th-
ing in this world? who would?

---

“I’m sick.”

“…with what?”

“Hope.”

And then

“I’m going to jump.”

The sound of the sea

“Down there?”

“Yes.”

---

She catche-
-s you with
a huff and-
her claws –
dig into y-
-our skin,-
blood on –
the floor. –