85.

he spent the night cleaning your blood
off the floor and he mentioned her the next day
you have not written about it until now
the letters that spell her name sit foul
and perfumed in your mind
somewhere in the vague Northeast
she smiles

and you have toothy voices in your ears
and they tell you she is waiting
and she is winning
and he says he loves you at every angle
and they ask  you why
and they say he is lying

so your feet bring you back
to the bathroom floor
you stain the rug again
red eyes, red lips
feathered streams like veins outside your skin
somewhere in the vague Southwest
you smile