The only time he feels alive
Is when his lungs burn
And each breath is a rasping exhale
Then gulped
Fast
Vigorous
Hungry
It hurts
It feels like desperation
At least his body wants to stay
It works
It fights
For what he doesn't know
And in that striking moment of fire coursing through his veins
He is grateful for something
A feeling
A desire
An awareness of not knowing the hereafter
His chest aches from the apparent