I need a sensory deprivation tank.

At the break of day
When the world is still sleeping
Here is when we lay
Me in your safe keeping
Dawn is so peaceful
Breaking free, bringing her light
Still I stay in your arms
The only place that feels so right

Don’t wanna wake today
Let’s stay stay stay
So I shut my eyes again
And pray pray pray
Come the sun or come the rain
You’ll go away
Here in your arms I’ll stay
All day day day

Let’s stay away
Be alone together
Tell the sun to come another day
Come back again
Shut out the weather
Let’s stay, let’s stay, let’s stay inside today
Let’s stay, let’s stay, let’s stay inside today
Let’s stay, let’s stay, let’s stay inside today

You know time won’t stand still
Once the world is busy waking
There’s no remedy, cure or pill
For the love we are forsaking
So let’s ignore the golden sun
Live free, forget the morning
Hold me now, make me come undone
It’s only me that is calling

Don’t wanna wake today
Let’s stay stay stay
So I shut my eyes again
And pray pray pray
Come the sun or come the rain
You’ll go away
Here in your arms I’ll stay
All day day day

Scene: A hotel room, with a twin-sharing bed in the middle of the stage. A small writing table and a stool stand at the left. A series of wood panels laminated with the motif of brown balloons serve as the backdrop of the hotel room. A seascape photo hangs on one of the panels.

One night. Two nights. Three. Four five six. There are bottles of whiskey broken lying all around. Blood all over the bed. Under the bed. The medicine box. Empty of all pills.

The actor, playing as MAN TWO, enters the stage from the right when the PROMPTER raises the cue card "APPLAUSE".

***


MAN TWO: I feel unappreciated, perhaps slightly shortchanged. Maybe extremely shortchanged. Very shortchanged.




The PROMPTER raises his cue card "

"




MAN TWO: As you've said

desperately in need, you are,

of a stranger's hand

in this velvet playground

Well, the dream is ending

the dream is ending..




A shot rang out. So bright. And white.




MAN TWO lies on the ground, bleeding. He tried to crawl, to leave the place, but he couldn't.




The stage lights dim and the curtain closes.

***

The train it broke down at bishan at about 820 today.

I do not know why but I'm deliriously happy today.

I know I'm dying. My heart is beating strong. But I'm dying. Each step I go nearer to the final full-stop, I'm dying. Some people say that we are dying the moment we are born. I hate to think of it this way, but I can't help it. I would love to be living till the last moment. Someday I think I will. So, my dear friend, before I close the door, please think positive. Make me live a short happy life the next story. Write a story about living. Write a story about triumph over despair.

It is strange a man can wonder so much about death.


Okay, okay. I hear the creaking. The door is closing soon. I wish you, sweet dreams and a good night.

I wonder if pain can ever become routine and fade away.

I'm coming out of my cage
And I’ve been doing just fine
Gotta gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I’m falling asleep
And she’s calling a cab
While he’s having a smoke
And she’s taking a drag
Now they’re going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it’s all in my head
But she’s touching his—chest
Now, he takes off her dress
Now, let me go

I just can’t look its killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it’s just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
‘Cause I’m Mr Brightside

I’m coming out of my cage
And I’ve been doing just fine
Gotta gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I’m falling asleep
And she’s calling a cab
While he’s having a smoke
And she’s taking a drag
Now they’re going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it’s all in my head
But she’s touching his—chest
Now, he takes off her dress
Now, let me go

I just can’t look its killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibi
But it’s just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
‘Cause I’m Mr Brightside

I never...
I never...
I never...

I take the train to work these days.

On good mornings I see beautiful women. And every morning, I think I may have fallen in love, over and over again.

I must confess that I enjoy it when they get close to me, and so I get even closer to them. I'm rather thankful for the crowd. After all, who could feign being tipsy at this hour?

That morning. That lady was edging in, making her way towards me. She got close. So close that I could feel her breath on my chest. I smelled earl grey and a whiff of Flora by Gucci. And I smiled.

She was wearing open toe white and gold stilettos. The kind that would pierce the hearts of men.

(I'm not a leg person. But I must say that she had beautiful calves.)

My eyes continued to scale her body. There was no visible pantyline on that black silky skirt. It ended off very delightfully above her knees.

She raised her left hand, running those dainty fingers across the length of her neck and through her hair, revealing her left ear. I could almost taste her lips as she licked them.

It was then I could resist no longer. I held my breath. And looked.




it was a terrible sight to behold.

Come around, feel the sound
Oh you make my heart pound
Fill me up, bring me down
When I hear your sound

I've got pressure, I'm in deep
Seems everybody wants something from me
I was a lover, but now a thief
I'll take your breath away and set you free

So much pressure
So much heat
So much hustle
They want me

Come around, feel the sound
Oh you make my heart pound
Fill me up, bring me down
When I hear your sound