Part I
Updated: Sep 1, 2022
By Emmanuel Messele
Out the window in my room is an alley
The alley occupies space between two mirror image brick walls
On most days I can catch the streaks of sunlight that wander into this space
Like adolescents who had made a wrong turn
The only other source of outside light comes from the hallway lights on the opposite building
The weak trickle of light on the side of the building is swallowed by the dark body of concrete below
When it gets late, only the fuzzy red light from the Exit sign quivers its fingers down the dark walls
Dark like how it would feel to be free deep in the ocean
My mind wanders down that hall
It’s 2 AM
It’s 4 AM
And I should return to my dorm
To the soft lights that oscillate between cloudy purples
And natures green
Its almost morning time
I’m fixating on new walls that are felt;
Not seen
Walls that are memorized
And never constructed
I know that when I finally fall asleep
I’ll paint these walls a feeling
With colors culminating
Like deep ocean blue;
freeing
