What's Wrong

Ten Pills

one

you slip a tablet in your mouth
to be freed from your misery

two

the days have passed and mother still
has not called back

three

the number of hours you have
until the sun sets on you again

four

the water burns the back of your throat
but the pill must go down

five

the lights are off
nobody is home

six

there's a hospital bill
that your sister can't pay
and it's all your fault

seven

one last breath
and seven minutes of memories

eight

an empty white bottle
that reads painkiller on its side
it's a lie

nine

you're drowning in your own mind
trying to escape the rush of tears

ten

you've already become another statistic
to everyone but your family
whose brains are filled with static