jumping.

jumping
flying
falling
screaming
crying
& splat.

red fanning out like a halo
from the broken skull
matting his blonde hair
flowing out onto the sidewalk
spreading into a fragmented heart shape
how ironic
he painted a terrifyingly beautiful picture of death
& my, was he drop dead gorgeous
no pun intended

sunlight tracing the secret smile on his lips
his empty blue eyes staring blankly
at the feet of those
who rushed to the scene
broken cheek crushed into the frozen concrete
lips growing bluer with every passing second
scream still echoing
hanging in the air
or perhaps just in the heads of the witnesses
ringing in our ears
because we all know
deep down
that his was not a fearful scream
not one of depression
nor one of self-loathing
it was not a scream
to leave horror in the eyes of passersby
or an ache in their hearts
it was a scream of joy
of happiness
of contentment
of relief
of freedom
of surprise
& then it was cut off.

so suddenly.

by the sound of bones breaking
& the sonic boom
of a soul's departure.

we all hoped he was heading somewhere better
better than this heap of garbage in which we live
which we call home
in which we thrive, every day
with a rain cloud hovering over our heads
& with cracks in our hearts
like the cracks in his skull.

the stranger with the heart-wrenching,
breath-stopping,
tear-inducing,
ear-piercing,
mind-boggling scream
he was just lucky enough to realize himself
in one decisive moment
that all anyone has to do to find happiness

is jump.