Water trickled down over Guest's head. It ran down Guest's chin, neck, and collarbone, soaking the shirt on their chest. Guest didn't react, still slumped on the floor, staring at the ground. The water that ran through their hair dripped onto the floor. Thump, thump. The sound of a glass bottle shattering came from a few steps away. Footsteps headed back toward Guest. And this time, the broken glass bottle came flying. Thump, thump. Red blood splattered onto the floor.

---

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Clack, clack. The sound of the keyboard was incessant. Tick, tock. The second hand of the clock didn't stop either.

So, you're saying you have no family?

The doctor's tone grew harsh. As if he'd just caught a big one. Guest nodded. The doctor's typing got faster. Clack-clack, clack, clack. Tick, tock.

---

On the way home, I saw a swarm of ants gathered on the ground as if there was a hole there. When I got closer, I saw they were all dead. Someone had stepped on them, and their black juices had stained the pavement.

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Someone pounded on the door, hard enough to break it down. Guest, who had been drifting in and out of sleep from the medication, was startled awake and pushed their heavy body up. They unlocked the deadbolt. Before Guest could even open the door, men barged into the house. Slam. The door shut again.

All the men's eyes were fixed on me. A sneer was plastered on each of their lips. For a moment, I was confused about whether I should smile back at them. As one left, another came in. One of the men said something. Spit flew from his mouth.

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--- ••• ---

I wish that water would dilute my heart, I wish the second hand would roughly push me away, I wish the ants would gnaw me to pieces, I wish that mouth would swallow me whole.