lake erie time 12:45 am

The day breaks away from me

and i feel alive

most alive i feel

when i let myself fall into dream

there are no limitations

from myself

or anyone else

free from this shell,

and root in grasp...

i climb.

my foot grazes a rock and starts to bleed

the pain is real

yet hurts less than the promise of morning.

i keep climbing.

night shirt ripping

arms and legs getting dirty

i am where i belong

i hear no echo of disappointments

only my breath

the seasons are changing

even in the darkened forest, the leaves are falling

i reach up and grab the nearest root

and it breaks, sending me down

where i began

i sit up and look around

i am nowhere near where i started

a hallow of precious stones

with colors Ive never seen

my reflection stares back at me

i am different

the clicking of typewriter keys startles me

somewhere in the distance... i am not alone

the darkened forest

has let someone in

i can only imagine

it being a lover of ink

this is after all, where inspiration does its fermenting

before i can feel them

my legs are carrying me towards the sound

i stop

and feel the caress of feline acceptance on my leg

i look up, and the words find me

"-lake Erie 12:45 am-"

He stands and takes my hand

twirling me round and round, leading me in dance.

i twirl and his lips touch my forehead

when i pull back to look up, he is gone.

i touch my forehead and feel something

i look at my hand

black ink.