Wow, what was that?

I don’t know, but… personally, I suspect someone put the kratom in my drink.

At first I was just out there testing the vibe, like… okay, I didn’t realize it was this icy, but okay. We’ll handle it diplomatically, like a boss. And then… suddenly… they decided not to handle it so diplomatically.

It’s my fault for being stupid enough to leave my drink unattended. I don’t know what they put in it… but my theory is kratom. The kratom does not agree with me.

First I felt a weird vibe change. My American friend looked at me with a great deal of concern and suggested it was time for me to go. They were talking about me in this way that was worrying to him. He says they have been talking about me.

Just for a moment, I made eye-contact with Mr. Antony’s friend. He had this strange expression I did not understand. My friend looked at me and said, “That guy absolutely hates you.”

“Oh, I know he does,” I said with a smirk. “He was the one who supposed to be on guard duty when the dog got off the leash. Looks like he got into trouble after that night…”

I laughed to myself at my own private in-joke. My friend gave me a strange look again. Suddenly, I felt myself become violently ill. In that moment I knew the evening had been compromised. Now I understood the look…

I laid the money down on the table and ran out as fast as I could. I went to get the antidote from 7-11 and came back to my apartment. I lay down in bed and waited for whatever was going to happen to happen.

Once the sickness had passed, I felt myself fall into a trance. I felt like I was floating on a cloud, then slowly melting down into a sweet, sweet pot of honey. There I was, suspended in goo, floating through time, space, and nothingness. I can only say I felt truly at peace.

I rolled over in bed and opened my eyes. There he was, staring back at me through the void: my hallucination.

“It’s you…”

He looked down at me and shook his head in disappointment.

“You fell into my trap so easily,” he said. “I was surprised. I thought you were so much smarter than that.”

“What can I say? I couldn’t resist the chance that I might see you again…”

“Really?”

“Really. Did you go to all this effort just for me?”

“You noticed that, did you?”

“I did notice that. Wow. All that… just for me? You must be someone really special, huh?”

“What makes me so special to you?”

“I don’t know. Whatever this moment is we’re having right here. This familiar feeling I’ve searched my heart for since that night I held you in my arms. That feeling I found in the hot beef stew, and the cozy sweaters on cloud days, and cuddling up to the memory of you to keep these lonely winter blues away…”

“Am I like your Andrew now?”

“Isn’t that what you wanted to be?”

“Do you think that this is love?”

“No… but it is poetry… sweet, sweet, beautiful poetry…”

I smile at him and place my hand on his heart. Oh sweet, beautiful memory I have of that night. I can’t help but linger on it. I’ve never known the kind of comfort I felt than I did when you wiped my tears away.

“Thank you for inspiring me…”

He shakes his head again as he watches me sink further down into the honeycomb.

“You fell into my trap so easily,” he taunts. “I can’t believe how easily you fell into my trap…”

“There’s nothing to trap, darling. I have nothing of use for you. I am nothing of use to you. I would be more than content to simply stay here forever and write poetry about the color of your eyes.”

“That’s what I thought…”

I nod my head and roll back over before completely blacking out. Some time later, I wake up again. I sit down at my computer and I write the story…