PERPETUAL FLAME vol.1

May 18

Photos and Words By CHELSEA SMITH

I am standing in front of the stage at Perpetual Flame Ministries v. 1, I am sobbing. There is no bargaining with a benevolent god in order to bring back my friend who died 4 days earlier. There is no bargaining with a benevolent god to toss me back in time to 20 years earlier in hopes of reasoning with a cipher. This room is the only place where I need to be right now. Collective mourning is coming from the stage and the crowd, we could be mourning an experience, a person, or that which never happened, it doesn’t matter. I allow myself to be crushed by catharsis and grief from all sides.

NIGHT 1:
PLANNING FOR BURIAL
MIDWIFE
HIDE
LINGUA IGNOTA