bucking, spindly fingernails scrape 

my brain, leaving raising red 

behind & nothing 

about it hurts

.

that fire melts into untouched 

muscles, a pool of hope 

that all of this nothing 

will actually become just that

.

if i wanted to deliver the final blow,

win the game of my life, 

it’d be simple

but i’m too weak for face-to-face 

though one eye has

begun to wink open

.

those i’ve loved & hurt

can grow into newfound peace 

as i ascend, all of my wishes 

granted

.

(9/25/25)