Until the stars explode

It all condenses into fear;

light year-wide gas clouds gravity

presses together to form into a star

and eventually explode.

So it only makes sense to run.

To run

when they look disgusted.

To run

when the front I constructed falls apart.

To run

when being made fun of follows me through the labyrinth

To run in search of a dead end

where I can stop and rest

but when every corner leads to another

my legs tire from the run and turn numb,

my brain aches trying to memorize the maze,

my eyes sore from the forming star,

so I freeze in the middle of a hallway.

A corner on each side,

it’s dim, so my eyes can rest;

it’s dusty, so few will come by and hurt me;

it’s empty, so those who come will go.

For now, it’s home.

I’m safe

for now I will stay

until the stars

explode.