You think you know him.
You don't...really.
I mean you weren't super close,
but you know he was blood.
Your blood.
He had the same thoughts
everyone has and goes through
during tough times.
You imagine he felt something
more than pain.
Anguish.
A feeling of running underwater
during a lightning storm.
You imagine how his widow
must feel between breathes.
Maybe she catches them in
fishing nets covered in more holes
than patches.
Maybe if you let yourself get to her
you can save her. Him.
What if she can't be saved?
What if he can't be saved?
What if you could save her? Would you?
What if you could only save one?
What if that familiar stranger needed
you
to throw him a lifejacket?
What if that lifejacket
was a metal casing
wrapped in a barrel?
What if he needed to be saved
and you just asked him,
are you okay?
Would he respond to you or
drown in the barrel?
