the worst place i ever slept
chilled air stands still
as the door squeels open
like a pig up for slaughter
the house welcomes me with dust
and the scent of flesh rotting
stabbing my nostrils
there are no bodies
but bags of garbage pile
amidst shit-filled corners
and cats in awe
of seeing a new body
the owner is a baker
she tells me
she makes the best cakes
from her kitchen
blinding yellow walls expose an overfilled sink
dishes soaking in black sludge
turning my stomach
forcing me
to hold back the urge to vomit
she leads me to my room
we walk up shaky steps
moving farther from the door
the walls seal me inside
with her maze of trash and cats
i think of running
but how can i escape
when there is nowhere else
she tells me the house across the street deals meth
and i think of texting my ex
of sending an s.o.s.
i wonder if he’ll answer
the bed sits on top of a hole in the floor
cracks sprawl away from the mattress
like spiderwebs cemented
and when i plop onto the couch
i felt the stench of piss
and musk rise like steam
i close my eyes
breathe in through my nose
stay composed
while planning my escape
