(Published May 2021)
Today is my eight year anniversary
When my body began to fall apart
When needles became temporary tenants of my veins
When I counted every shot they slammed into me
When I stopped counting after the thirtieth shot
When my leg turned into a wildfire
When that wildfire slowly crept up my leg
When they told me they may need to amputate
When I fell in and off conscious, and today still can’t recount everything
When my body attacked each IV and by day three they had to retreat
When with every retreat they had to invade a different part of me
When they finally went straight to the heart to conquer the fire
When I felt betrayed by my getaway driver
When I felt a prisoner of IV bars and antibiotic guards
When I was alone in a building overflowing with people
When my body began to fall apart
Eight years ago
Poetic Trials 