A review by bluecherryblossom
Helium by Rudy Francisco

"When People Ask How I’m Doing

I want to say,
my depression is an angry deity, a jealous god
a thirsty shadow that wrings my joy like a dishrag and makes juice out of my smile.

I want to say,
getting out of bed has become a magic trick.
I am probably the worst magician I know.

I want to say,
this sadness is the only clean shirt I have left
and my washing machine has been broken for months,
but I’d rather not ruin someone’s day with my tragic honesty
so instead I treat my face like a pumpkin.

I pretend that it’s Halloween.
I carve it into something acceptable.
I laugh and I say,
'I’m doing alright.'"