stuck in neutral by J.J. Campbell

think back to random cigarettes
on the floor of some shitty car

all the cute teen girls that hung 
around for the free drugs

you were the cool one

because you never needed a 
fake id to get liquor or beer

you remember when the love
of your life laughed in your
face when you said you 
wanted to marry her

spin the bottle but the bottle
was replaced with a bullet
and you only played with
your imaginary friends

sometimes you could get
high enough to put a neon 
star on top of the sun

sharing a bottle of vodka
with your crush from the
eighth grade knowing
the rest of your life was
going to be stuck in neutral

do you think any of them
actually give two shits that 
you’re alive

a fragile ego requires a few 
extra bottles on nights like 
these

J.J. Campbell (1976 - ?) was raised by wolves yet managed to graduate high school with honors. He's been widely published over the years, most recently at Red Eft Review, The Beatnik Cowboy, Synchronized Chaos, Horror Sleaze Trash and Cajun Mutt Press. You can find him most days on his mildly entertaining blog, evil delights. (https://evildelights.blogspot.com)