on the way home

she stopped at the pet store

only for a second

just a second

a ~ t i n y ~ goldfish

bright and blonde

with a tail that glistened as it swayed

swam in circles inside of the tank

she caressed the goldfish on the way home

close to her heart

so close to her heart

“I will keep you inside of me”

but once she stepped inside

one foot through the truth, one out

the little plastic container carrying the goldfish

turned a hot, burning shade of red

the goldfish melted all at once

his eyes his pretty blonde scales his little shimmering tail

into a liquid so metallic

too metallic too metallic

she screamed at him to stop melting

and poured him into the clogged sink

and jumped into the water with him

and held his melted body in the palms of her hands

eventually, she too began to melt

she realized in that moment

she had no choice

but to pour the little liquid goldfish

down into his steel, cylindrical grave

still peeking down,

she feels the heart of the tiny goldfish beating in sync with her own