the water is streaming down my face
making me numb to the feeling of my tears
it runs through my hair and down the small of my back
replacing the path his hands would travel
reminding me that his touch was even softer than water

I played a station we never used to listen to
the music in the background is muffled and distant
but suddenly a memory plays through the speakers
and the lyrics become clear as day and ten times louder
all at once I feel the stream of tears again

I plug the drain and lay on the porcelain
hot water rains down on me until the bath is full
the rain stops and everything is still
for the first time in a long time I inflate my lungs completely
and I *float