Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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I made hot cocoa at twenty past four
Which is not a normal time
The kettle clicked off like it was disappointed
But it didn’t say anything

Used semi-skimmed because that’s what was there
Not because I chose it
Stirred it with a teaspoon that says "Good Morning"
Which felt inaccurate

Hot cocoa
Burnt my tongue again
I never learn
I always think this time will be different
But it’s hot cocoa
And I’m stupid
And that’s sort of the point

The marshmallows were off by a week
But I ate them anyway
They dissolved like a bad idea
Before I could regret it

Outside a man shouted at a pigeon
Inside I stood very still
Holding a mug like it might explain
What I’m meant to be doing next

Hot cocoa
Too sweet, not enough milk
Like most of my plans
I sat on the edge of the bed
Drinking it carefully
As if care has ever helped

People say “drink water”
People say “get some air”
No one ever says
“Have a hot cocoa and stare at the wall
Until your thoughts go quiet”

There’s a ring at the bottom of the mug now
A brown circle I didn’t earn
Proof that something happened
Even if it didn’t matter

I rinsed it out straight away
So there’d be no evidence
Just the aftertaste
And a slightly calmer chest

Hot cocoa
Nearly finished
Just sludge at the end
I thought about making another one
Then thought about lying down instead

It wasn’t life-changing
It didn’t fix anything
But for five minutes
Nothing asked anything of me

So…
Hot cocoa