our hands piled upon each other
upon the doorknob.
And entered the house like we would a cold pool;
with reserve and introverted caution,
waiting for a shock of pain
to jolt us from our smug comforts,
and I begged my will to gather itself and strengthen
to force my head an inch further inside.
The handrail leading up the steps
caught my hand first
and pulled me through the thick air
to the landing where I finally looked down
and noticed my feet were no where to be found.
So I turned around,
and saw them behind me,
and realized I was laying prone,
swimming on the surface tension inside this home.
I accepted it with a giddy relief
and turned to head back down,
but was pulled backwards by my feet,
dragged through the air into the furthest room.
The only room with thick carpet,
and transparent blinds,
and no signs of neglect.
So I turned supine,
and saw the clouds and the sun,
and stayed to rest on the thick
fluid breath - now in the lungs of the house.
The warmth beamed across my face,
making my lips tingle,
like a dream where all was right.
And it was so quiet.
Like at night.
"But it IS midnight." I realized aloud.
And my friends and I came to discover
the secret fortune behind that front door
never opened or crossed
by my friends and I before.
So I scrambled in intense fear.
Like a wild first-time swimmer,
I scrapped my way to the stairs,
and laid my hand on the banister
- my feet still not touching the floor,
but all I wanted was to pull myself back
to the comforts of the other side
of that front door.
Short quick breaths,
my shoulders on fire
after pulling without rest.
My eyes stayed unfocused
seeing only my thoughts of distress,
until I reached the front door
and saw my hand still on theirs,
too scared
to move
anymore.
We were ten
and dreamt of adventure,
and always played out in the street,
but tonight we wanted more.
So I reached for myself again and again,
and caught my hand
just as we all turned around
and ran and ran.
And we would never entered that house again,
but I will always remember
my eyes so wide
as I saw myself frozen in fear,
feeling like it would never subside
as I floated upon
the surface of an exhilarated tone,
leaving my body to deal with it all alone.
Jordan R Shaver 09.21.2012
