i find myself, looking, leaves scattered across the street. there, youth, alone, dancing, laying in the streets, oncoming traffic and a girl that laughs having been there. i tighten my grip, veer towards the shoulder, she says to me, i still think you’re an interesting person. the windshield shatters, dense spiderweb of all the things obscuring the night, the headlights. sometimes, he says to me, sometimes you have to sacrifice for the greater good, and i find myself a child again, incomprehensible and lonely. i never had a problem being alone but i’ve never felt this unreasonably lonely. and the wind cuts through the throat, leaving us shivering and cracked open again.