sickly sweet his muttered breath
stinking of rain and ***
nicotine that stuck to his sweat
and monsters between his lips
they start to slip--
casualties of carcinogens
sand paper made of tired skin
peeled away
sliced off
cut in
slipped away
--addictions forgotten how to stay
their sweet poison the only company
and bittersweet, missed opportunities
and how you've slipped away from me.
surprise, surprise.