Fade to Black

The water downed brown of coffee
stains the torn pages of
a diary lying open— exposed
to the polluted air of a tainted
room and its secrets,
hidden quietly on the walls…
the bed…
the floor…
the window.

Not a tear dares to fall from these
tired eyes, though the thoughts
I can’t ignore are more than enough.
Overwhelming and loud, thoughts of what was—
what never will be—
plague every inch of my body…
my mind…
my soul…
all of me.

Turning the lights off— lying down
on my worn and tired
bed— slamming the diary shut— all
that was my self disappears with the room.
Exhaling— the room—
my exhausted mind— all goes black…
goes black…
goes black…
oh so black.