text: Stories are written on these walls. Tales of triumph, failures, bonds, and sadness. It's dark in here, black that no light can render. Familiar. I've been here before, many times, not always by choice though. I'm in a prison with no bars, the door is unlocked and I can leave when I please, but I don't, I won't. I've got a sick feeling growing in my stomach. It could be from the other night when she laughed in my face, or when I took a pocket of cash and put it in my nose. But why does there have to be a reason? Why waste my time looking for answers? Maybe I deserve to feel like this. I'm safe in here, it's cold, but safe. I never have to explain myself here, it's nearly impossible if I were to even try. So why bother? You don't always know why you do the things you do, why does there always have to be a reason? This place is empty and lonely, yet it breathes life, creation and hope. Bad things come here to fester and to only be remembered. Why do I keep ending up here? What keeps bringing me to this hollow shell? Because its familiar. But why does there always have to be a reason? This place was molded for me. It doesn't have to be this way, things can change, change is good. Embrace it. Embrace everything. Say yes and open my arms to the world. Live. I will break these chains and walk out the door never to look back again. Yes. I want to live. "Cal? Eh, Calvin!!" "Hmm, wh.. what?" "You okay buddy?" "Uhm, yeah I think so, why do you ask?" "Looked like you were lost in a thought" "Shit, sorry man. I was just stuck in my head again" "All good, just deal the cards" But I know I'll be back. I always end up going back. So I go ahead and deal the cards.