cracked, white nose

sweaty palms and

white, cracked nose.

grasp the gold metal handle

and push open the back door

i swallow small shallow breaths

and think to myself

is this what it feels like

to have your heart escape

from the confines of

your chest?

warm liquid drips

slip down the back of my throat

i can't stop thinking about

what he said, and whether or not

it was just a joke.

a gunshot, & cold metal wire.

we all stopped

but only for a little while.