Once Upon a Time

Locked door.

Running faucet.

Overflowing water.

Utter silence.

Traces of red.

Slit wrists.

Dead man.

Crying mother.

Shook father.

Wondering little sibling.

Sleep.

Wake up.

Body bag.

Police.

Yellow tape.

Closed off bathroom.

Sobbing aunt, sobbing grandma.

Father’s hand on mother’s shoulder.

Stern looks.

Paper signing.

Wondering little sibling.

Looking for the man, is the child.

Nowhere to be found, is the man.

Days pass.

Tensions fall.

Grief still in the air.

Pained, anguished days fall upon them.

Perfectly made bed.

Unworn hoodie.

Messy, uncleaned backpack.

What follows…

Is life.

And life is much scarier.

Than the escape we call death.

-Jeffrey Yang

#poetry