Morning

Morning

Slowly eyelids lift and light spills in
The smell of sweat and booze linger in the air
Joints pop and muscles stretch as my body reanimates
Breath is labored and the throat is dry
A burst of pain, white hot embers flare in my skull
A collage of images flood the mind
Distorted faces frozen in silent laughter Good night?
Maybe I don’t remember, never remember
Can’t keep doing this
I drink and call her, drink and call her
A cold hand runs down my spine, bringing me back down
She’s awake too
“Are you going?”
“I…I don’t know.”
Shouldn’t be doing this
Can’t move forward if I keep laying down
“Don’t go.”
Stop thinking with the want
Start thinking with the need
Can’t keep doing
this

~Zachary Webb