isn't answeri

lls me I'm al

the eyes and said, "If he comes near you again, we'll bury

ain. Straight

leave a

I tape the blinds shut in the kitchen. Lock my bedro

feel li

f fear is leakin

on't eat. Her voice is light, too li

m f

re ly

ead to the fridg

le

u don't k

doorstep. No note. Just the fl

ghs. "E

nk it's

spent five years in a box of your own makin

t was

esn't

ing. Then I ask, "You

I wou

Just for a beat

ay

I s

e is thinner

d hide things

he kind that scratches at the walls.

forgot it on

ation and the way that flower looked so fresh-like it

the last time

f touch. Not the mo

rutal

't say

whisper sw

blouse down the middle, and ruined

k at myself in the

ou gave away,

I was broken and used and

spine like

se

br

I le

second

ated him. Esp

in the

erything that s

ter, I wake up tast

a knife under my pillow. Not b

want to

rs. Pressure. Pain dressed up as passion. My body ar

up sw

ngled. He

o my throat like

Eyes flicking to every corner. Every alley. I cross

h waves me in. I pretend to smile. Pr

alright

t slee

Night

an anything by

lish for her new job. She's kind. Focused. She tells me

mmar, give her praise

de I'm s

ple move o

unlight while I'm sti

t because the walls of my apartment feel tig

he bookstore, I see

hair.

ree

-and it'

a str

upid. I f

the flowe

ew it

damage

the back of the closet under winter coats and broken pi

r a long time. T

ne I fed the FBI. E

burned his

that's what

bites when t

er. Toss it back

erything

tes. Codes

like I'm the one