it was too late for anyone to be out
twigs crunched under my too-small shoes and i shined my phone flashlight at anything that moved
it was cold. it was summer. and it was cold.
the wind seemed as though it was trying to push me back.
run, said the stones
run, said the wind
run, said the trees
come, said the bottom of the lake. let me hold you. let me love you.
run, said the trees again
run, said the wind again
run, said the stones again
come, said the lake again. please. please let me have you.
the ripples inched towards me. I inched towards them.
the bottoms of my shoes are wet. then my jeans. then my waist. then my shirt. then my neck. then my head.
then im underwater
and there are rocks on my chest
and i feel a sweet sting of a bite to my neck
and as the last bubbles go out
the lake and i are one