she sucks on her menthol e-cigarette

it tastes like the outside

desperation in a tube.

she turns her head from side to side

staring blankly all around her

taking nothing in

but nicotine.

a step forward, she’s at the counter

name?

turn the page

a little paper cup,

with little paper pills,

plastic gulp of water.

zopiclone?

it must be time for bed

this is how she keeps track.

doc, are they working, doc?

why don’t you have some toast?

am I cured yet, doc?

the little paper cup

with the little paper pills

is not easy to hide

eyes on you check that every pill

is gone

By Mud, an artist, writer and mental health campaigner.