My Cousin Tells Me She Knew I Was Using Drugs in the Next Room

Disturbia: Britnie Walston

My Cousin Tells Me She Knew I Was Using Drugs in the Next Room

 

I threw a stone and instead of some shatter-
ing       the river is on fire
but I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t tell a soul.
Everyone burned. I have the hands to prove it.
My cousin tells me
I knew you were using drugs in the next room
                         and I wanted some.
Some people enjoy picking lice
from the hair and killing them.          I want
the crystals in your hair too.
   I want.      I want.      I want     your magic too.
 Tells me    she smells smoke
but it’s a BBQ    or the cupcakes are burning.
I scratch at my head
only to remind myself some things are still
precious.
A stone in the river means        I’m finished.
I remember plucking the thing
                        from under my ribs and my body
rippled.  I was back inside of the next room
burning myself alive.     Affliction
is said to to live inside of the body
      and I am here to tell you it’s true.
I have the hands to prove it.

Author: Anthony Aguero 

Anthony Aguero is a queer writer in Los Angeles, CA. His work has appeared in the Bangalore Review, The Temz Review, 2River, and other publications.

photographer: Britnie walston

Britnie is a versatile artist, capturing energy through light, vibrant color, depth, and texture. The use of exaggerated brushstrokes and abstract color give her paintings life and voice. Her landscapes and abstract work consist of a variety of unconventional techniques to capture the elements portrayed. One of the most used techniques in her abstract paintings, is the method of mixing each individual color using acrylic paint, floetrol, silicone, and water. Together, they create “cell like” forms. More of her work can be found at www.BNWArt.com.