you are an a d d i c t i v e substance,
     and you still haven't left my system.
a potent chemical coursing through my veins,
     making me beg for just a little more.
one more conversation, one more smile,
     one more hit to tide me over for a while.
but i keep coming back a g a i n and a g a i n,
      "i promise this is my last hit,"
           but it never is.

i can compare you to nicotine,
     but in some ways you are worse.
the stench of that "lava flow" vape juice
     is still permeated in my car upholstery.
the sickening, sweet smell reminding me
     of what i have disallowed myself to posses.

but with you
     the reminders are all around,
and the cravings
     don't lessen after three days.

you aren't doing me any good
     i'm aware.
that's why i'm trying to quit you.

but the voice in my head w h i s p e r s
     that you aren't that bad,
           that i can handle it.

so i'll keep waiting for these cravings to fade,
     but i won't say that i'm an a d d i c t.