You Are a Hangover

Poem by Hailey Jiang
C.W: Allusions to Alcohol

First shot. 
I swallowed it quick. 
A knot in my stomach, 
Your eyes lost in mine. 

Second shot. 
I could get used to this. 
The room spun and the lights coalesced. 
Sweat dripped off my temple 
Your lips on mine. 

Third shot. Fourth shot. Fifth shot. 
I drank you up 
Shot after shot, kiss after kiss, 
The faint moonlight illuminating the flush on your cheeks. 

I was enchanted, 
wasted, our potential was 
just out of my reach. 
I couldn’t see clearly, couldn’t walk 
in a straight line 
into your open arms. 

I couldn’t react, couldn’t 
Stop your vomit
 Staining my shirt, no matter 
How hard I scrubbed. 
You were there, a constant memento. 
I tripped, my final chance to 
fall into your arms, but you 
Dropped me. 

Your speech slurred, 
Said this isn’t it instead of I love you, 
Get off me instead of you are my everything. 

Your lips left a mark I can’t 
Get rid of, no matter how much
Chapstick I apply or how much water I drink. 

Your eyes too bright, 
My head aches, too loud, 
My temples throb. 

My memory is blurred, 
I don’t know what happened after. 
All I know is you are gone. 

And I can’t get rid of this damn hangover.