my hands tightly clenched
the bathroom counter,
my mouth agape,
eyes rolling,
tossing hair to the side,
tighter,
tighter,
veins aching,
my vision sliding
to look into
my own eyes,
pupils dilated,
bags,
red,
my face covered in runny
black paint
on my chest
the word
"dead" written
with the tips of tense
fingers,
that way if the sirens
ever made their way
they wouldn't waste
their time trying to fix
me,
tighter,
tighter,
i was my own maker,
my own master,
my own destroyer,
i hated to say it,
but i hoped she was alone,
because i was alone,
i fell to the floor,
traced the word
on my skin,
lighter,
lighter,
my head began to fog
with dense advice,
everyone is right,
except me.
everyone knows all,
except me,
my hands tensed one
last time,
my mind faded to
black,
and i took my gamble.