Dark Red on White

This morning I blew my nose and the white tissue turned into a dark red. Fascinated by the blood that inked the paper I stood there in the middle of my room, unable to move for several seconds. I felt more blood running down the wall inside my nose, it was a tickling sensation that made me smile, until it dropped heavily onto the tissue, adding darkness to the bloody display.

Bent over the sink I thought about the last time I saw blood. It was a few weeks ago when my board hit my left shin and ripped open an old scar. But when was the last time blood came gushing out of my nose? It's hard to tell, I can't recall my last nosebleed. I remember one time, about fifteen years ago. It was back in Germany, and the blood kept streaming like a peaceful mountain river.

Finally it seized. I wonder how much I have lost. However, it won't be a fatal amount, I assure myself and get dressed. Outside, the long-announced sewage system repairs were in full gear. I took a left instead of the usual right and realise I never walked this way. I looked down on my new shoes, beautiful vans. Then I looked up in the sky and smiled. My shoes are dark red on white.