HYPOXIA

“Do you know why I love you?

I can see you trying to move.

Still looking for a way out.

See, it’s not about that for me.”

My grip on the plastic oxygen line tightens. Air struggles to flow through the kinked hose.

“When you haven’t won at something, the problem doesn’t come from you; there’s a source.

There’s no need to move when the heart of the matter isn’t beating anymore.”

Her breathing chokes into raspy shutters, weakening by the second.

“Do you know why. I. Love. you.”

Her eyes slide shut as the monitor flatlines.

“Because I win.”