a cento of dialogue from the film Being John Malkovich (1999)
(Oh, look away.)
You’ve gotta help me understand,
I didn’t know how else to be with you.
You look so lovely
The way you’re looking at me
You’ll catch your death.
Listen, don’t con me.
I know you’re not a monster.
I know it’s the craziest thing
being you.
I’ve been going over and over
I’ve seen a world that no man should see
moving all the way through me
my arms, my hands
a reflection of ourselves, our frailties
The last thing you’ll ever see.
What would you think,
(look away, look away.)
if I told you I’d found a way
(look away, look away.)
for us to live forever?
(Oh, look away.)
Sinclair Adams (they/she) is a Pushcart Nominated writer who holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Chapman University. Their short fiction has been published in Broken Antler, The Bitchin’ Kitsch, OFIC Magazine, and more. They are a frequent contributor of speculative fiction and other genre book reviews to The Soapberry Review. Their favorite revenge story is “Lamb to the Slaughter,” a short story by Roald Dahl.
