“I think I’m dying”.
I don’t remember which one of us
noticed it, said it, first.
-As I picked at the scabs
on my knuckles,
from fighting my almost stepdad.
You told me to stop, and that
he was gone.
I guess I ran him off.
But we sat there, you and I
as the sun burned the blue away.
I used to like blue,
but my preference turned to dark red.
At least a deep orange,
a few months back.
When puberty opened the drapes
and reality invited itself in.
But I wasn’t ready.
Wasn’t ready when you
took off your top, and
laid it underneath you,
on the grass.
Not grabbing my bloody hand, but
the other one, and
set it on your chest.
-Never felt another heartbeat before.
I guess I knew it wasn’t rare.
But this, a first, so
it was still a once in my lifetime.
And maybe there will never be another.
Incurable, each of our doctors
had told us. Well, told
our mothers first.
Who then let us know.
Yours, while you sat after dinner.
She cried through it, grabbing dishes
and wiping her snot and tears
with her sleeve.
Mine, told me in the parking lot
of the doctor’s office,
never turned her head.
I just watched the road
and silently picked out cars
that we should ram.
Here, upon the grass,
at least now we wouldn’t die virgins.
I tried to cover up in the after,
but you asked me, don’t.
So we laid there, as sacrifices,
for the bullshit gods
to claim us.
You believed in some sort
of a heaven. I didn’t.
For all we knew, perhaps
our bodies will break down
and we’ll turn into batches of fireflies.
Or, you, butterflies.
I got hungry, so we
made our way to the most
convenient store.
Split a soda and some chips.
Salted lips; Your kiss
was the ocean I may never taste.
Almost light brown, now, the sun
shrouded itself across the dying day.
A blanket, atop an earthern corpse,
to disguise the loss as a horizon.
So few notice.
It looked like an iron pan
of burnt grease.
Day old, like us now.
So much, then, for adolescence.
~~~
Back with style 👍
Hey Joe, whats cookin!
I’ve been a busy guy for a bit. All good stuff, except work days can be brutal.
I haven’t written much, either. But I don’t want to get stale at it. So, this.
Thank you, for the acknowledgement. I’m still trying to make it all interesting.
Well, one armed chainsaw jugglers tend to be talented guys or they wouldn’t be in it for long!
Brilliantly penned, Mark. You’re an amazing storyteller my friend, and this is an excellent write. Good to see you brother, hope all is well with you. Appreciate you.
Damian
All is going well, Damian. I actually left work early today, to get this write solid, after I had been jotting down little bits of it while working.
I do try to make my writes worth it, to a reader. Maybe even they can find some motivation from it, as I do from much of what I read.
I will catch up more in here soon. Crazy days lately for me. But I intend on being more frequent here now.
Cool, brother. Appreciate you.
Damian
Oooh weeeee! You’re killing it tonight! Welcome back!
Incurable just means “not yet.”
I was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder last September, if I listened to what I’ve been told I’d have half my body buried already. Life is meant to be overcome and enjoyed. You’re not here to live like you’re dying.
Phenomenal write, Styxian.
Hello Adira!
This is basically a coming of age piece or prose. I didn’t want it to be too basic, so I had to add my bit of spin of course.
The only thing dying in the write is their childhood.
As for you, writing is the best therapy that there is. As you’ve discovered. So release your demons and ails to the literary world, and be healthy. Yeah?
YES!
Hey big sexy!
I love when you dive right into all of the feels.
The opening stanza about fighting your stepdad. Making the battle personal. Then following that theme throughout the write. Getting inside of that fighter/lover mind of yours! I’m excited you posted. It’s like you open the door into how your mind works. What a gift:)
I loved it!
I’ve been neglecting my creative side a bit too much the past couple of months, as you know. So I was due.
And hey, its all about you right now! My accomplished, published writer! What!
I have a few gifts, none more valuable than you…
Being incurably alive is a very incurable situation. Fantastic.
What’s with the back of the head avatar! Man, show the world your brave face! Lol.
Thanks Paulo. I live my writes before they ever get into actual writing. Im good at visuals, which makes the writing much more fluid I think.
Good to see you here, btw. We need your talent.
Goddamn Mark
I love the flow of this piece.
You’re still firing on all cylinders.
Since the DUP demise I’ve hardly written at all. I thought it would have been an easier transition but it’s been anything but.
Life gets in the way but it was a thrill to read you again.
Amazing storytelling
Congrats
BIG LIKE ( yeah, that still works)
Well I have to stay relevant where ever I post. LOL. Sometimes when I read a few pieces from others, it motivates me to break out of the rust. I really am a product of my environment in writing sites.
Thanks dude, for staying relevant as well!
Your storytelling is always the perfect mix of detail and mystery. It’s nice to be back here after several months away, if only to read you! I don’t know if I’ll manage to stop in more frequently or not going forward… but knowing you’re still around is definitely motivating. I do love your writing.
❤️k
Whats up!!! I am so busy nowadays, but I do want to pop in here and read some stuff and contribute once in awhile. You should too! Hint hint! LOL
and thank you for the encouragement, I try to post good stuff.