buried beneath

greasy, yellowed

papers.

twitching, ink-stained

palms atop

soggy mattress.

eyes closed, mind

traveling miles past the

here and now.

wandering friends,

lost in laughter and

abandoned housemates.

in celebration of

a new year.

you, choking on

day-old pepperoni pizza,

sagging bags beneath

tired eyes.

they, amidst

sparks and gunpowder,

sipping mountain dews and

a you-less picnic.

you tell yourself

you hated fireworks

anyway.