Standing on the sidewalk,
Waiting to hitch a ride.
Nothing in sight,
All dark but the harsh glow of the electric lights.

Headlights approaching,
A moment's hesitation,
But the need to know for sure is too much to bear.
Just one step,
The sound of metal and bone cleaving,
Shattering glass.
The last thing I see is car and tree
melded into one being

As my life flashes before my eyes,
I see my childhood,
pushed into some forgotten corner of memory:
first day of school,
first fuck,
all firsts leading to this last.

I look down and see myself in a hospital bed,
Shrouded in healing white light,
Surrounded by friends,
family.

It is only an illusion.
I lie,
waiting,
bleeding my soul out on the pavement
under the electric lights.