“What’re you obsessed with?” she asked 
before her her mouth melted away and
time, having lost all its stitches, unraveled. 
I thought of a dozen lies, some of which
made me quite proud, but I opted to tell
the truth, though her ears had long since gone.
But when did that occur? There was no way
to tell anymore, and that was for the best,
given the terrible weight of the world and
the failed dreams of everyone, not the least her.