REMIND ME TO BREATHE WHEN WE ARRIVE

She took the pill
and was drunk for hours
swaying her scars
clapping her feet
a trick of solitude and fear
Hoovered by reality
broken in a dusty digestive bag

She said she had been ripped
and giggled through a veil of hysterical eyes
These children never forget she said
and I think we both cried
hating
a nightmare so real
every breath was a new start

Fuck them I told her
we are going to survive
Every light sighed in London
a moment of absolute dark
outside inside my nostrils
a pain in the stomach a fist of thorns and claws
our coats were freezing
but our trembling was different different

She took the pill and I remembered
that it was us
us
who were innocent
who drew labyrinths on flesh
who kissed in exchange of a smile
who craved

an image of lost youth
those girls who changed your life
and whatever happened to them

I jumped to hold her
we were little as stars
never thought she could be that young
two empty dolls with borrowed eyes
fake pink cheeks and blackened smiles
Shh. Don't panic.
We will not die.