Wallpapered Arteries

in a hallway in my heart

i still hear your footsteps

forever walking out a door

but always leaving it open

you lead with the balls of your feet

your hands warm inside your pockets

the weight of a father’s silence settling heavy on your shoulders

sometimes i wanna scream at you down wallpapered arteries —

and tell you that you ended up just like him

but i see your scared baby face

hiding in a corner

and i know i’ll never be able to take my fingers off the pulse

say that i’ll hate you for every second you stole

but i’ll still make up an excuse

for every way you fall short