It was 5:30 when he woke up
a text message alarm clock
vibrated into consciousness
"still on for the beach?"
is what it read
but he wasn't sure
if his head was still on
yesterday clings to today
but promises are promises
made to be broken

so he met Kyle
at the beach house
down the road
they got beach chairs
and enough cigarettes
to make his mother faint

They walked to the beach
not another soul
as far as their eyes would take them
the sun bounced off the ocean
stabbing their eyes
discarded useless sunglasses
he climbed into the water
green liquid ice
virginal purity
which washed the slate clean
a long list of forgotten memories