Through the wild jungle

As I caress all of the wild animals

You try to stop me.

I stroke the gentle panther’s fur as it sharpens its ebony claws.

I scratch under the monkey’s chin as it tears open the dripping fruit.

The python holds me gently and I look lovingly into the poisonous eyes.

The rush, the adrenaline, the noise of life courses through me

Like blood.

Aching for more, an addict for… god, who knows? I scale the trees.

The animals watch me, but you watch harder.

You are yelling, but now I can’t hear you. I am too high.

The bliss fills me again as I peer over the canopy treetops;

This is my place. This is the only place where I can feel.

But suddenly, I’m slipping. Again. It’s okay, I slip, but I never fall.

But then the branch starts to give way and I’m clutching at the leaves at the monkey at the python at the panther

At you

But you’re out of reach

And I am plummeting.

But the vines catch me; but I am still up, so high.

The vines that are holding me start to tighten and so does the snake. They are choking me now. But somehow, it’s okay. I am okay.

When the vines finally snap

Your voice is the one screaming out to me.