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i wake up and i smoke

Content Warning: Substance Abuse

it makes for a reason to get up 

and it’s easy 

an easy reason and

it makes me feel like i’m floating when i get back

into bed for a while

the first high of the day is the best  

i can feel it in my lungs

my face feels fresh 

my limbs loose

the day feels

manageable 

it’s time to get up and i smoke 

again

it makes me want to 

or care to 

do things for a while

i wash my face

put on deodorant 

organize my 

mess of hair 

and i eat

only hungry when i’m high now 

otherwise nothing is appetizing 

so i get high 

and i scramble eggs

or butter toast  

i eat it fast and then 

don’t remember it

i finish online lectures and i smoke

the steps between class and a carefree inhale 

now have become like a ritual 

close the computer 

take pony

my bong 

from the closet 

clear out the ash

open the window a little wider

plug in the fan 

turn it on 

point it blowing out 

light the candle

grind weed

load the bowl 

light and watch the bowl 

watch the bowl

until it’s ash

and breathe

breathe in

turn the fan so it blows in

put the bong in the closet

weed in the shoebox 

blow out the candle

turn off the fan

close the window

and finally exhale 

and i can breathe

it’s a ritual i perform like a machine all just steps

between me and release 

but

it’s the middle of the day when these steps

become too much 

almost

almost too much  

but i always find myself there  

sitting by my window 

blowing clouds 

foggy like my mind feels

the middle highs of the day

aren’t the same

i write a reading response

listen to slip away by perfume genius 

on repeat 

accidentally 

time for dinner so i smoke 

time to eat again

time to force the previously natural reaction

basic feeling of hunger 

and i eat 

then zone out 

for a while

watching the jellyfish screensaver 

on the tv 

that plays between episodes 

my family talks 

in between

i nod

everyone goes to bed and i smoke 

my favorite part of the night 

everyone assumed to be sleeping 

i roll a j 

hotbox my car 

feeling the smoke all around me 

a warm 

wispy 

embrace 

the windows fog up 

so i open the door

the air flows in

the smoke dances out 

but the smell stays on my clothes

i slide past

the motion camera at my front door

the light on in my parents room 

i take off the clothes 

inhale deeply 

the smell will be gone in the morning

i shower 

if i try 

i can smell resin on my fingers 

I slide into bed

to reset

to do it all tomorrow 

i sleep and 

i wake up 

and i smoke

By Anonymous.

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