Counting Exits

One, two, three, four (hup)

My cousin texts me thirty-minute voice notes

Standing on the edge of the rooftop HVAC unit

He says he's counting every exit in the room below

Living on a ledger of things he'll never show

He's pacing in the break room,

pacing on the ledge (watching)

Taking every dollar right up to the edge

Count the exits, watch the floor

We don't live here anymore

On the ledge or in the heat

Keep the rhythm, feel the beat

Voice notes play in the silent concrete hall

Five exits marked on the warehouse wall

He's counting out the seconds till the next shift starts

Beating like the pattern of our heavy hearts

Count the exits, watch the floor

We don't live here anymore

On the ledge or in the heat Keep the rhythm,

feel the beat

Counting the exits (one,

two, three)