Like Mildew

This Loneliness won't leave me alone

-Otis Redding

Living in a basement

is cool and dark,

good for long summer sleeps.

But an abundance of free time

spent alone

leaves me restless.

Restlessness

in dark cool spaces

breeds loneliness

like mildew.

I wonder how much

they think of me,

and imagine the worst:

eyes rolling

when they see

“Jake”

in the caller ID,

parties

with everyone I know

raging,

and toasts

to my absence.

Living in a basement

thinking too much

about myself,

waiting for my phone

to save me

from these lonely thoughts.

I need to get out

and go for a walk.