SCOTT
Isabell Manibusan p al e s k in v is ib l e t h r o u g h t h e w at er . ( t h o u g h it w as dis t o r t ed) i f eel t h e c u r r en t s o f h is k ic k s c ar es s m y b o dy ; c ar es s t h e p o o l w al l . h e em er g es w it h a s l ig h t g as p an d s h iv er s . s c h l u c k . n o w w it h s w im m in g g o g g l es p er c h ed atop his head, and arms crossed over his chest in a futile effort to conserve warmth. he g az es at m e. i s t u dy h is s h iv er in g b o dy an d t h e s u n em er g es f r o m
b eh in d t h e c l o u ds . i
r el is h t h e n ew f o u n d w ar m t h an d s u b m er g e m y s el f s l o w l y u n der w at er . a b ee s t r u g g l es t o es c ap e. l et h ar g ic w av es o f dead g n at s ar e s w ep t in t o t h e g r o o v e w h er e u s ed b an d- aids , h air , an d o t h er il l - f at ed b u g s c o l l ec t . g l u g g l u g . an d t h ey ’ r e g o n e. h o t as p h al t o n m y f eet . c o o l s h aded c em en t . then the cheap laminate floor of an elevator. water pools at my feet. t h e do o r is s l o w t o c r eak o p en , b u t i s q u eez e t h r o u g h . he keeps floss on his nightstand along with a sewing machine and an alarm clock rarely u s ed) . i c o l l ap s e o n t o h is m at t r es s an d s in k in . t em p u r p edic , h e t el l s m e. as i l ay t h er e i watch him busily e it and re enter the room. he dgets with a knick knack or two, s et t l es , t h en m o v es ag ain . an d i l ay t h er e t h in k in g o f s o m eo n e el s e, as h e w as dis t r ac t in g himself from an entirely different someone else. i close my eyes and listen to the nervous fleeting footsteps that echoed in my heart.
43