Hazard Signs

I've begun to notice that people often aren't who they claim to be. Like calm, clear waters that turn out to be shark-infested. I guess I've started to think that maybe we should all come with warnings.

Warning: doesn't follow the rules

Warning: quick stop

Warning: loves the unknown

Warning: on the run

The first love of my life loved to explore. He'd steal a cheap bottle of liquor, and we'd run off into the unknown, laughing and kissing and stumbling in and around the trees.

Warning: likes to take control

Warning: breaks promises too easily

Warning: chronic liar

Warning: weeble-wobble

He'd walk like a toddler taking his first steps, slowly and pensively, until we were so lost we didn't know right from left. This is when the fighting would start.

Warning: likes to learn with the eyes

Warning: tongue too fierce

Warning: sensitive ears

Warning: touch too strong

He usually drank more than me, meaning that he usually forgot what would happen between those trees. That's probably how he was able to forgive himself each time.

Warning: skin inclined towards bruising

Warning: heart too fragile

Warning: lungs too hollow

Warning: eyelashes too stubborn

There was this one time when it got so bad that I grabbed the poison from him and downed the rest of it. That was the last I remember of that night.

Warning: hand-me-down

Warning: broken

Warning: naive

Warning: easy target

The next morning, I woke up with cuts and scrapes.

I still pretend that they were from falling and tripping when I was drunk.

Warning: don't love me

I'll take advantage of you.