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Leaving

always leaves me breathless

and not in a good way. More liked punched

in the solar plexus on the floor croaking

like an out-of-water fish. Like death’s

bear hug crushing all the air out

of your chest until your ribs crack.

A sound like the echoes of a million

shut doors, like all the stars clicking

off and everyone you ever loved gone.

And you in the dark and your heart

ticking like a bomb.