Glass (Crank 2)

supposed to love me, but doesn’t call.

I brush my teeth with the same energy

I used on my body, notice a streak of blood

in the spit that spirals down the drain.

No worries. That’s normal, right?

Cleansed, scented, hair wet and cool

down the length of my spine, I feel like

a goddess, jailed in her Olympus. Little

wonder, how the gods toyed with humans.

Toyed with women, to watch

them squirm, pollinate the seeds

of despair; toyed with men, to

satiate their Seven Deadly Sins.

I know it’s not right, that I have

no right at all to do what I’m about

to do. Maybe he’ll say no, send me

back here to swim in emptiness.

Wearing Nothing

But a thigh-length button-up shirt,

barely buttoned, I creep down the hall.

Stop outside the girls’ door, poke

my head inside. Lights out. Totally.

One step at a time, silent as night,

I keep going until I reach Brad’s room.

One ear to the door. Not a sound.

I knock softly and he says, Come in.

He’s lying in bed, alone in the dark,

only moonlight to let me know.

I hesitate, but Bree gives me a shove.

[Go on. It’s only between the two of us.]