Deeper, longer

With each inhale of the victim, one more day of his life goes into the rehabilitation center

One more day gets cut off from opportunities at school that don’t wait for him

He told his parents that he would turn his life around

But his parents should have known addicts are liars

He convinces himself that he is making a change

The X-ray of his sooted lungs tell otherwise

Hiding behind the smoke that makes nasty snarls around him as he sits on the steps of a rundown shop

Helps him cloud his thoughts of reality

Getting help before there is no turning back is pushed to the back of all his troubles as they diminish with each puff

Higher, peaceful

He realizes he is smiling as he puts the cigarette between his lips

Before the last bit of light is extinguished out of his eyes

The smoke dwindles into the air as his head tilts back against the concrete wall

With a small plop the cigarette falls onto the ground

His fingers have lost their grip and his cracked lips part,

up toward the sky

Where his opportunities have ended,

just like the setting sun ready for a new day