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.
