Halo Of Tear Gas

Earth frozen,

dragging mistakes—

tides slip beneath ice.

ICE agents collect quotas,

heads and bounties blur lines.

"Hello?" Eve says,

purity echoing

over tussles with masked men.

Friends, lost in

a halo of tear gas.

Thankless job

unwise thoughts.

A killing stone

trigger pulled

flashbang—

city streets, 

spilling—

crimson.

"But I'm not a criminal," she says, 

her conscience clear. 

Protest,

living

among the dead.

Frozen,

hearts cold.

Sirens fill the air,

then silence,

deaf.

Eve's final blink

gone.

Who survives?

By Andy Cooper

From: United States

X: AC0040