are you tired yet? are you tired?

do you hear the screams? do you hear the wails? the pain?

are you tired yet? are you tired?

do you smell the mass graves (you always smell them before you see them)? do you smell the ash? the rotting flesh?

are you tired yet? are you tired?

do you feel the dirt under your fingernails (it’ll never be washed clean)? do you feel the skin rubbed raw? do you feel the muscles so tense that tendons give way? your eyes are still open— do you feel the burn yet?

are you tired yet? are you tired?

do you taste the blood? do you taste the iron? the red clay coating your tongue?

are you tired yet? are you tired?

do you see the blood? the broken glass? the smoke? the fire?

are you tired yet? are you tired?
can you see it yet? can you see anything?
are you tired?

tape your eyes open. you are not allowed to look away.