There is within me a parasitic urge to run away.
A new city, Chicago, Seattle.
It squirms its way in like I’m prey.
A 13 hour Aer Lingus flight from a horrific mistake.

It made me its host before the first withdrawal.
Anywhere new, a land to forget my own name.
At first, the sensation was inspiringly floral.
A 35 hour Amtrak away from a horrific mistake.

Unstoppable, determined, powerful, its gifts to me.
No family, no friends, purely strangers.
In exchange for mania, I surrendered into a taciturn devotee.
A 4 hour Volaris flight away from a horrific mistake.

Through the years, it has remained largely dormant.
Renovating a dusty apartment in a snowstorm city.
Rarely lighting my old need for explorement.
A 5 minute walk away from a horrific mistake.