Days used to yearn for a reason to continue.
going through the motions
Everything was  

Heavy.

and

grey.

and  

so  

so      

exhausting.

The house was tense
It felt quiet and empty.
Even though it was full.

We were prepared to lose her
But that did not seem to make it easier
When we lost her.

Mom had insisted:
“Not another”
But time had a way of changing your mind.

The day of we drove up
Thirty-two minutes
Felt more like thirty-two years

We walked down the driveway
Through the dewy air
To the noisy shed filled with animals.

A litter of Puppies- five months of age
In a small play-pen
They YIP! and they BARK!
Trampling each other.
Some hide in the darker corners of the cage,
hiding
While others fight for a look
Hope to be chosen
By us.


They all have curly matted hair
Of many different colors
Their eyes are barely visible
through the mat of their fur.

After meeting a few, one escapes the pen
She runs to greet us
Yipping and wiggling with excitement

She starts with my mom

Jumping up licking her face
Wagging her tail so fast
I think her spine might break

Then to my dad
They both smile so big
As she jumps up on his knees
to give him a kiss

Then she comes to me.
After my sister

She jumps up on me
Giving me kisses
Then she goes to run with excitement
From my mom
To my dad
My sister
And me
Again
and
again
And
again.

And as of that day we were hers

After that day
My days had reason to continue
We laugh and we love as we come home
To a wagging tail and lots of love
She is sunny
The ray of sunshine
That somehow manages to light up
The dark corners of my mind
She's the bright to my dark

Summer Days splashing in the river
The bike ride down
The wind in my face
My hair dancing with the breeze
I wish
every
Day
was like This

Dad,

Hanging up his hammock
While me and Maddie walk up the river
Making up our own games
And convincing Dad to let us
Swim in the river
Though the current was rough
I remember how he would sometimes
Say
“yes”
Letting the water
Engulf our bodies
Pulling us gently
Downstream

Years ago
I didn’t realize
I didn’t see how quickly
How quickly our world is disappearing
How quickly the water has dried up
Those days
Slipped out of my hands like water
Slowly          evaporating
Slipping from my hands
Dripping into some place
That is unknown

Someday
I will visit this place
The past of my life
The perfect days by the river
Someday.

Seeing sunny play
Happy, excited and free
Tail wags happily

Crying with my mom
After a heavy movie
Letting the tears fall

Existing in
The vast water of the lake
Watching the sun fall

Reading a big book
Full of so many stories
Waiting to be told

Going down to the
Cabin to run and play
Splashing in the water

Laying in the grass
Sun looking down at me
To greet me hello

Small moments that feel
Incredibly freeing
And keep me okay.

He walks slowly
As if he is about to pounce?
His lips move as if

Words should be

Pouring

Out

But no sound
Comes out

They say he's a Freak but
No one dares to say “hi”
They just cross the street
With cautious eyes.
His hair is greasy, dark, and thick
And his clothes seem to swallow him whole

No one has ever heard him speak
But he carries a notebook-
Its worn as if
its lived too many lives
No one questions what could be in it

But

If they opened the book
Did not cross the street
They would read of his service in the marines
Say “hello” for the first time
When they eventually close the book


They would understand.

My chest feels like it's imploding
Slowing crashing into itself
time is slowed down
Its much too
slow

The world looks blurry and grey
Even though I can see
Perfectly fine.

My contacts list looks
Short
Compared to the last time
I checked
And I can't seem to find
A reason to live

Suicide looks so much prettier
At night
It tells you that the darkness
In your soul
Will match the darkness in the streets
But
at least
the streets have lights

It feels like my voice is tied in my throat
The voices decide,
If I live if I die
They get to vote

And I cry
Desert dry tears
Knowing that I won't be able
To take the step
To end it all
Tonight

Suicide looks prettier at night

it convinces you that
The street lights
Will die
With you

Whispers in your ear
All the things you beg
To not hear

It reminds you of the things
You can never forget
Drills it into your skull
Until it's all that's left

It ties you up
Keeps you alone
Cuts off your fingers
And smashes your phone

It leaves you to sit by yourself
in the dark
To watch the stars
Cry themselves to sleep

It puts on some makeup to cover its tears
And speaks with you
about your fears

You tell it everything
How could you not?
It's so pretty and calm
the night sets the scene:

a romantic night

A knife on the table
And pills in the drink
A noose acts as our light
As we chat about things

You share your deepest secrets
And it listens, never talks
Let's you talk until your voice is lost

at the end of the night
It leaves with a kiss
But your still *******
And you start to miss
The company
Of suicide