I drink for our loss.
May the scent mask the traces of yours left on my pillow.
May the taste burn the sweetness of your mouth out of mine.
May the bottom of this bottle (temporarily) erase unwanted memories.

I drink for my regrets.
I wish we had never met.
Sharing intimate moments with someone else feels like committing a crime.
The punishment is a lifetime sentence of remembering how our love died.

I drink for my body.
I gasp for breath at the intrusive thought of you touching me.
We share the same ink in our arms.
I want to rip my skin off.

I drink for my future.
It is permanently affected by your actions.
Will I ever fully trust another human?
I cannot trust myself.

I drink for everyone who has a tombstone in their heart.
May the name fade faster due to forgiveness.
May the grave deteriorate due to compassion.
May you someday stop visiting it and
mourning the person you once loved.

Featured art: “1; 20 More One Mores” by Adam Lupton.