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Up in smoke
In my isolated twin bed I lay
thinking...
about the shadows that lurk,
watching me from the dark corners of my room.
A thump.
A screech.
A slam.
I hear my back door,
glide open,
then slam shut.
Is someone in my house?
I listen for footsteps,
but I hear none.
Paralyzed in fear,
I work up the courage to investigate.
Finally, I slip out of bed
and creak down the hallway.
I peer around the corner...
Nothing.
Slowly, I advance towards the sliding glass door,
but it is too dark.
With a quick sporadic leap,
I flip on the patio lights.
There he stands,
with the one thing I fear the most.
Our gazes meet.
It's my brother.
And hanging out of his mouth,
a cigarette.
Lit.
My brother smokes!
The one I looked up to
is doing the thing I look down on.
What do I do?
I can't tell my parents.
He would think I'm a tattle-tale.
So there I stand,
and with one glance
My decision was made for me.
I wouldn't speak of this.
I couldn't speak of this.
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