I present for you
A user’s manual
For your new set of headphones

First: connect to your device
You may need a cord
Or use Bluetooth
But you need to connect to an outside source
The headphones do not come with a playlist

Second: put the headphones on
Make sure you maintain maximum ear coverage
Headphones are not as effective if you can hear the outside world
The thud of footsteps
The jumble of conversations
The pitter patter of rain
And the sound of laughter
Are not as harmonious as your music

Finally: begin the first song
Listen to it blissfully
Because only you can enjoy it
No one else is allowed in on your personal concert
There is no need to take off your headphones
There is no need to turn the volume down
There is no need to disconnect from your mobile device
Because here
No one can hurt you
You can’t hurt anyone
And you can pass by the world like a ship in the night

The headphones have a lifetime warranty
However, we cannot refund you
On the time, friends or opportunities you might have lost
While using our product

Sincerely, your inner coward

The Modern Sleeping Beauty is not found in the middle of a forest
Surrounded by flowers and small animals
With a light shining through the treetops
Illuminating her pristine body

The Modern Sleeping Beauty is not awoken by a prince
Wearing a royally white outfit
Who softly kisses her on the lips
To remove the magic curse

The Modern Sleeping Beauty does not finish the fairy tale
Marrying the handsome prince
With a happily ever after
Disney-style ending

No, the Modern Sleeping Beauty can be found curled up on a couch
Wearing a leather jacket and grass-stained jeans
Listening to someone else's music
Undisturbed by the world bustling around her

And the Modern Sleeping Beauty is awoken by a nondescript character
Who heard the bell ring
And wanted his headphones back
So he shook her lightly

Still
The Modern Sleeping Beauty
Is more beautiful
Than any fairy tale

An open window
A cold winter morn
A snow covered field
A white rabbit
An undeniable truth
Through the window frame
You can imagine the glass pane

Ten minutes late
One foot in the door
No one notices the new addition to the party

Twentyish people
Three rooms
There is little space to hide

Twelve gallons of soda
Six bags of chips
The fuel is never ending

Two hands holding
Two bodies touching
The most recent arrival awkwardly observes

Four hours later
Two sodas downed
The intimacy still increases

One step forward
Two steps back
He drifts toward the door

Twenty minuets pass
Fifteen miles driven
The boy sits at his computer and composes his regrets

Seven stanzas written
One memory burning away
He still doesn't know how if he should sat down,
put his arm around someone's shoulder
and talked the night away

About a week later
He forgets how to hold someone's hand