wind whips hair, ebony wisps into squinty eyes, lasers cast beams of artificial light across the dark waters, chatter all around, look out but do not soak in the calm, but to choose empty thoughts, no desire, no remorse, no expectations; rough flesh sliding into palm, eager to become one.

warmth of sun on my cheek, today do not feel sticky (for once), warmth of wood against my cheek, feels good to escape, feels numb, all of a sudden intoxicated by sleep...peel back eyelids to a hazy room, on this bed, hazy thoughts, unconscious found its way out

lie on stomach, hold can in one hand, pictures flash before eyes, 'dudley being fat', gulp gulp only a hint of bitter as cold slithers down throat, hear cheery laughs, bodies squirm, mouth juts forward forms o squeals, shake hands 'truce', hold a little longer smile and nod, hold a little longer the moment as it hovers, eyes say please stay.