Purgatory

Penance.
Standing in the not-quite-light, not-quite darkness;
Counting my rosary beads
"Hail Mary"

Somehow I don't feel the prayer lines are open for me.

Equal and opposite reactions
Except the catalyst is bitter
Bartender!
Gin and tonic, with just a splash of bitters.

I drink, therefore I am.

No, not alcoholic
My organs are steeled against these excesses of ethanol
Drug of choice?
None
Who needs a crutch when you can crawl?


On bended knee, only to hear the word
NO.
The slap of reality.
Except it can't be real.
Except it is.