Childhood Friends
TW: sexual harassment, graphic harassment, disturbing imagery, mentions of rape Childhood Friends Yesterday I remembered my sexual harassment. I stood on the cold floor of my work’s new building, cushioned pads beneath my feet, placed there in hopes my bad ankles did not give way during business hours. My…
There Are Spiders In My Eyes
Sometimes there are spiders in my eyes. I see the black shapes skittering across my vision, prompting me to turn, ready to leap away from the foul creature before it got too close. But they aren’t there, they aren’t scurrying across the grey fabric of my hand-made couch. They aren’t…
Nightmare
I was shot last night. Through the arm, in the chest, by an intruder I didn’t know. I screamed, my voice raw and terrified, trying to wake someone, anyone. My father, asleep a moment ago on the couch beside me, was gone. Perhaps if I scream louder he’ll hear me….
Don’t Believe Women
I’ve never been sexually harassed. Perhaps there was a time when I was walking down the street from the library, and a car full of men whistled and hollered at me. Perhaps there was a time when a male friend messaged me. He told me in vivid detail how he’d…
The Movies
When I was in seventh grade, a boy from the eighth grade table turned, tapped me on the shoulder, and grinned. With a mouthful of food, he pressed his hands to his chest and sneered. “Do you think you would want to go out with me?” he asked, barely able…