Thomas Albertson:  

Life On the sideboard, left of the lamp with the flickering bulb, sits a picture of two men. I am on the left, and next to my younger self, the Betrayer. I travel the familiar room with my eyes, unscrew the chattering bulb, and lean against the ivy curtained window to wait. School Four black birds, small with tar eyes. A hawk, majestic and lonely. Across the field before me, the four dart, peck and stab at the one. My lids close at the wrenching cries of the larger bird. Silence, I open my eyes. 3 small shapes launch from the field, as one circles above. My phone buzzes in my hand. I look down at the glowing blue screen and think again of you. College Folded t-shirts. 3 piles; plain white to the left, those with print in the center, and black shirts, the largest pile on the right. The one I fold now, Brahmi script over faded graphic. A merit badge for a world explored. Next from the bin is black again. This time a concert t-shirt from a...Expand for more