About a Boy

He stands in darkness in front of a mirror
Staring at a reflection that isn't there
Staring into a boy who is fading fast
One flick of a switch could confirm his dread
And let his world come crumbling down
He runs his hands down his chest
Counting each bone, days he has left here
If he touched hard enough he could draw red
It wouldn't matter, not here, in the dark
Fingers creep over scalp
He feels every bump. Every crack, every vein...
...Every pore, crying him to dehydration
His tongue feeling like a slice of stale bread
'I couldn't swallow, even if I had the strength to...
...There's nothing there'
He feels around, stumbling for his cigarettes; a lighter
For the smallest of moments he catches a glimpse of a reflection
Surely not him
With sunken features and transparent skin?
The nightmare disappears behind an orange glow
And a screen of smoke
He drags in deep thinking
'This could be my last' with a laugh, and sits...

...Boy stands over a lifeless figure
Naked and sprawled out in his armchair
Limbs almost lost in the plush green upholstery
The chair looking so fresh compared to these bones
Long fingers clutch a lighter and a carton of "slims"
Boy grunts in mild amusement...never seen slimmer
He slides his eyes up the skeletal neck
And along a stream of hazy light;
A small crack in the drawn curtains
Dust floats like the snowflakes outside
And rest on blue lips
Boy recognises that smile,
And those eyes scream relief...rest
So he can finally sleep? It's over...
...And the tears keep crawling, like a silver rain