still here

written by salem marlowe

two weeks, the duffel by the door one boot hooked through the strap banshee making a nest of the carrier like she paid rent in cat hair i slept in yesterdays black shirt zipper tab against the floor kept my phone and keys in the same hand very normal behavior, obviously

dinner was noodles, too much garlic somebody left a fork in the couch evan said when you do the visuals for the next one, make it uglier and i laughed at the word ugly like that was the part that got me then my jaw went tight around nothing and i forgot what i was saying

the bag stayed by the door the door stayed where it was no hands in my pockets no one asking what was up morning moved around me pipes, footsteps, somebodys song i watched the light catch the zipper and it was still where i left it all along

banshee slapped at the carrier latch then yawned and walked away there was half a lemon on a plate going hard beside the sink i stood there in my socks for an hour which is embarrassing, but true then took out my toothbrush first put it in the cup beside yours

the bag stayed by the door the door stayed where it was no hands in my pockets no one asking what was up morning moved around me all that ordinary noise i watched the light catch the zipper and then i made a different choice

i didnt hear a promise nobody said the right thing the drawer was open, that was it and i had something i could bring

the bag is under my bed the carriers under the chair my charger lives behind the nightstand bent at the neck, still there banshees asleep in the clean laundry like she has nowhere else to be i shut the drawer with one hand and leave the other one free

still here still here the toothbrush in the cup the light on in my room still here