We sit in silence

puffing our breath into the frigid air,

like mechanical dragons.

“So...” he trailed,

and it was the same question they all ask,

“Why not do something reckless?

Blatantly illegal?”

I pursed my lips reflective, tired, uncomfortable.

“Well...” I began, the air tasted like dying autumn,

“I think it’s much more entertaining 

to cheat the whole fucking system

with its own rules.

I really don’t have any interest in 

paying out consequences or being punished.

No, I like my adrenaline clean. 

I like to have that last god damn laugh

and know it.”

By Veronica Russell