My eyes open.
It's another day.

inhale

Drag myself out of bed.
Splash water on my face.
Stare into the mirror.

breathe

Walk.
Sit.
Eat.

blink

Phone rings.
Talk.
Work.
Text.

don't forget to breathe

My eyes close.
It's another night.

please no nightmares tonight
please.

Watch as my pale skin wrinkles with age
and the flakes upon my scalp
accumulate.

Watch as hair follicles replace
the absence of nutrition
in the keratin layers
above my brain.

I don't find it necessary to explain
that my cranium has softened over time with the sadness you bring to my mind.

and I suppose if you tried to find
something beautiful inside my eyes,
my irises would have to shine with lies.

I have myself so thoroughly fooled,
I'm not sure what the truth is anymore.
I don't know what's real,
Who I know, who to trust.
I don't know who the enemy is,
And they deigned to give me the ROE.
I don't know who my allies are,
Or where I can hide and still be safe.
There's no list I can read,
No dotted line I can sign on,
Nor a box I can check,
To request reinforcements.