Inhale. Exhale.
Breathe, damn it, BREATHE!
He coughs, a heaving and rattling cough it is
Is this the last fit hell ever have? Will it ever end?
Once it finally subsides, he calms and takes another drag
The room fills with the sweet smoke of opium
It reflects against the mirrors of his defenses
See what you want, but know its an illusion
Silently, I open a door and step inside, but what I see is sad
The fire in the hearth is dying
And the scent of poppies overwhelms that of pine
He stares without seeing at the flames
A bottle of pills in one hand and a joint tucked between two fingers in the other
His lips move speechlessly, as though praying
For what? I wonder as the bottle slips and rolls a few inches away
I sigh loudly, but he does not turn; though his eyes are open, he slumbers
Its too late for me to help him; if he is to change, he or someone else must instigate it
My presence is required no longer
I start to leave, but hear as he mutters,
There is a nightmare for every dream
I'm outside and the door closes behind me, separating us once more
May I never look upon those pale blue eyes again!














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