Shadows

I wake up from a pleasant dream.
I wake up from a pleasant dream, there is screaming outside of my open window.

I look through the glass.
I look through the glass, his mom is screaming at him.

Alex’s mom has horribly fake blonde hair.
Alex’s mom has a horribly fake tan.

I imagine.
I imagine she tries to replicate her son’s brilliant hair.
I imagine she tries to replicate her son’s golden skin.

“ALEX!” his mom screams, slapping her hand against the front door of her house.

His mom is drunk.
His mom is drunk, I understand where he gets his drinking problem from.

A man stands next to her.
A man stands next to her, muscles bulging from under his shirt.

They exchange words.
I cannot hear them.

“OPEN THE DOOR YOU LITTLE SHIT!” His mom screams continuing to hit her hand against the door.

I shut my window.
I shut my window and I go back to sleep.

&&

My eyes scan the words.
I read the newspaper.

I am home alone.
Again.

“Carson!”

I jump.
I jump and drop my spoon into my cereal bowl.

He is outside of the kitchen window.
He is outside the window, looking in on me.

“I need to talk to you! I figured it out!” Alex tells me happily.

I do not know what he is talking about.
I do not know what he is talking about and I don’t want to.

I shut the window.
I shut the window and walk away.

Alex knocks on the door.
I ignore him.

Alex sends me text messages.
I ignore him.

Alex calls me.
I ignore him.

Alex knocks on my window.
I let him in.

“I figured it out! I know all of the answers!” Alex says happily, gripping my shoulders and smiling at me.

I do not understand.
He unfolds my paper.
I understand.

“I know who I am.” Alex holds my face in his hands, he whispers.

His eyes are big.
His eyes are big, shining chocolate diamonds.

His hands are warm.
His hands are warm, burning hot coals.

His breath is sweet smelling.
His breath is sweet smelling, nectar.

My body is frozen.
My body is frozen, butterfly caught in an ice storm.

My interior melts.
My interior melts, wax on a burning candle.

“I’m someone who doesn’t know who he is.” Alex whispers again, thumbs dancing across the skin of my face.

I nod.
I nod, agreeing.

His lips over mine.
His lips over mine, my first kiss.

I am Carson McCoy.
I am…in awe.