For a week, our bedroom
on the fourth floor
of this condominium
reeked of sewer odor.
It invaded from the empty lot
outside — abandoned
except for the debris.
It was the hot season
so we didn’t close
the windows.
Otherwise, we would be
compelled to turn on
the ozone depleting air-conditioner.
We tried eco-friendly air freshener
but the stench overwhelmed
the fragrance every time.
Aside from the foul smell,
did we also inhale toxic fumes?
Did it reduce years off our lives?
Anyway, that was a year ago
and my wife and I are still alive.
We have recovered from the virus,
and our faces have been spared
from crashing into the pavement,
or being struck by a fist
or slashed by a box cutter.
It’s now the first anniversary
of the lockdown
and we know
that the forces outside
are always more lethal.
And sometimes,
they seep in.