it took me forever to figure out what to wear-
clothes that i tried on- landed on my floor
my bed- littered
until finally i gave up.
Today, the day, i re-present myself
to the world- to the strangers around me
none of which knew-
i had just spent a day in hiding
crawling back into my flesh-
trying to make sense of all the bruises
that had appeared from the night before.

You- also a stranger- reached in
and reformed my skin- if only temporarily.

i spent the day half in slumber-
my body mourning the changes
it would have to disguise- today.
so masked and beautiful
i step outside. wondering
how this practice became so seamless
And wondering why i still care.
Surely, i should want to know your name
want to pine and long for your voice-
your touch just once more- again
i just keep on. This road was built
for efficiency and i've grown fond
of nothing the day could hold.

so here, i lift up my afternoon coffee
to you & your fingerprints left on my back.
Should you laugh and not linger,
find your way to a stranger
who lost himself in a dream
that's become me.

-a.