Birthday Exodus

Jonathan Valania

July 7th, 2018


Pain, friends, beer.

I laugh—

but only because it’s expected.


It’s my birthday.

I want to disappear.


I keep saying I’m introverted—

maybe I’m just exhausted

from performing.


The flowers on my desk

are already wilting—

beside the letter about you.


I said I’d be in Utah next week,

under stars,

breathing in God.

But tonight,

I can barely breathe.


God, I hate it here.

Same voices.

New masks.


I wore mine for you.

 

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Letters I'll Never Send

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