i tread over leaves embossed in concrete with menthol smoke stuck to the roof of my mouth and sirens wailing in the distance. the other continent is crawling with death. i can feel a wave of decay wash over here, crashing into the shores of a nation who’s desperate screams are muffled by red white and blue fabric stuffed into a gaping mouth. multiple things can happen at the same time. a smile carved into your cheeks. her tears salty on the back of my tongue. hope can be found on a freeway billboard and shaky prayer escapes my lips under a steaming shower. repent. there is judgement in the sunlight hitting the side of my head. skin flakes off my scalp and i think of piebald hands and a soft chuckle from the driver’s seat. don’t chew, don’t swallow. let it rest under your tongue and the medicine will dissolve.