and breath all at the same time.
His belt’s hanging open,
hair fucked, face flushed,
blue veins raised in both arms,
fighting to trap the breakdown in his bloodstream.
And those eyes…
They’re begging.
Like if I take one more step,
his next breath leaves with me.
I hit the curb, making it across to the other side.
Catch the brass handle in one hand.
The door sticks at first.
Then the bell rattles,
the door swinging open.
I give myself a second before turning,
but I already feel him.
His stare's fading into me,
slipping under my skin,
pulling at me,
a tide in my blood.
I lift my head.
And the second our eyes meet,
the world drowns.
Like a heartbeat slowing down.
The streetlights smear sideways,
everything slipping away,
but him,
and me.
His whole body snaps to stillness?—
one hand frozen around the cup,
