Chris Lim
addiction
somehow i still hear my father
with his long gone
mucus coated words
talking to me when
– i clean my room
crimson bleeds through
the crevices of curtains
reminds me of his smile
whenever we would
get takeout at mcdonald’s
or when he would beat me
in hour long games of tennis
– i talk to my friend
sitting in the driver’s seat
an ugly yellow light shaping
his sleep-deprived face
on our way home he tells me
about how he’s had a rough day
while i stare at the empty pack
of cigars poking out his pocket
– i try to send my body to sleep
I’m still wide awake,
my eyes reddening
blinking
now i know that
those breaches of sunlight i saw
are now constricted in the dark
by sticks of breathable suicide
Chris Lim is a 15-year-old high school student from the Philippines, who attends the British School of Manila, where he won the 2018 short story competition. He likes taking part in Math competitions and reading dystopian novels. His poetry has appeared in the journal K’in.
SUBMIT to What Rough Beast via our SUBMITTABLE site.