99' on the Line § THE FOOL

☠️99' ON THE LINE☠️ “Leave your message after the tone…” Just another bland day, Just another cold sad day, Laying in the grey, Dragging at fourteen, Stuck at my old man's place. “Just fucking great.” School ended, Butt planted, At home on my track-phone, Tappin’ into that party line. (Let’s see what happens tonight…) It was a normal night, Back in the dead year of 99’, I simply stepped outside, To smoke a cig before my Dad arrived, Being 14 that shit I had to hide. But something caught my eye, A half soaked paper, Sitting by the door outside… Black bleeding ink, From the rain that night, “Lonely?” (Have fun playin’ on the party line…) 99’ on the line, Stuck inside, Losing my mind! No social, No A.I, Second hand online! It’s 99’, and I am on the line, Waiting to talk to just the right guy. On the line in 99’. (Just don’t be lonely tonight…) Dialed into, Their setup messaging, Passing through, Seas of inbox misery. But you dropped in, Straight into my D.M.’s, Low voice, but kind, Yeah I was hooked on your line, (Months went by, back and fourth, you and I…) You dropped in night after setup, I didn’t really suspect, I just thought this was fun! You wanted to know my age, sex, location, When I said 14 you got excited… Something didn’t feel right about it… But you dropped it that night, sweetly, Moved onto what I liked, I forgot honestly. Like the number you gave me that night, “Call anytime, I’m a genuine guy!” “Right.” But still for weeks I went on with my life, Until your number resurfaced back in my mind. Late 99’, Stuck on the line, Exchanging messages with this guy. He’s too sweet, too kind, Connecting constantly as the months go by. It’s 99’ and I’m feeling numb, Dialing into a line, Just to feel something. Latch-key kid living in this haunted home, Dialing into a line, Just to not feel so alone. 99’ on the line, Come on, let’s meet up! On the line in 99’. (I know his type.) (I know his kind.) Everything was wrong a mile in, Passing the hotel we were supposed to spend time in, Third mile in silence, understanding the trouble I’m in, “Are you going to kill me?” I asked, placing my hand in my pocket, “Of course.” Without missing a beat, so casual and honest. Driving steady, threats poured out, All the things you could do to me now, Disappear me deep inside your house, Tie me up and shut my mouth… I didn’t try the handle, I know it’s locked, Arriving at an intersection, slowing to a stop, Devil eyes smiling asking what I’m gonna do, I responded to the silence: “Cattle prod you.” He only had a second to act confused, Before I placed a charge to the temple of the fool. Eyes bulging, mouth foaming, I watched the light leave his eyes before going, Walking in the rain, leaving a corpse at the light, I guess I’m the one that should’ve been trusted tonight. “Please… leave your message…”