I drank until I reached the bottom

C.J. Wayman

The memory of you is briny in my bones.
The water called so we drifted along
below the expansive sky. Its starlight a beacon
and the tide a calm lullaby to carry us
toward the horizon. We were a drop in the ocean,
barely making a splash. Giddily whispering in sync
with the humming sea until the air grew frigid. The stars
moved aside and darkness became all consuming.
Parts of you disappeared with each wave as you realized
this was a mistake. The tsunamis I raised spared all
but you. Your prayers left unheard. I’m sorry
you fell in such deep water, so far from shore.
The depths around us lied in wait. The storms stirred
and the ocean began to swallow.
Water filled our lungs. We drank
until we reached the bottom.

---

C.J. Wayman
C.J. Wayman is a queer writer, poet, and social worker. Her work explores themes of mental health, identity, and the everyday. She enjoys traveling with her wife, two dogs, and their cat.