The room around him was littered with junk food packaging. Piles of them. Crumbs patterned his desk. His eyes were bloodshot red and his arms stiff, due to days of slim to none motion. His hair was a fury of strands and his soiled clothes unwashed for weeks, both reeked unpleasantly.

Pinch the bridge of my nose—
is it wrong,
too wide,
too flat?
Prepare your rust-covered tools,
bite into my bone,
smooth like your dream ski slope.
Whittle me down
to a shape that’s not my own.

Our shoes are different sizes
Toes curling to fit in the space
Aching pain bites—
Oh, to be included

Piano lessons since birth
But a violinist is yearned for
Tutorials all night—
Oh, to be included

If there were ever any doubt
Than I am wholly and utterly in love with you
It has now been thoroughly expunged from my conscious
The clanging and drilling of your voice
High pitched and shrill and the hollowness of hammer on nail
The ungentle touch of your never rougher hands