No One Belongs Here More Than You

She saw herself as a charming street urchin, a pet for wealthy mothers.

He looked like he was standing in a strong wind.

Even a duck or a bear looks civilized when clothed. I pulled down my jean shorts and lifted my shirt over my head.

I told myself that the sound of my breathing was really the sound of all the animals in the world breathing, even the humans, even the boy, even his dog, all together, all breathing, all on Earth, at night.

I, on the other hand, have never been able to convincingly wear athletic gear, and prison life would kill me.

I brushed my new short hair with the same long strokes I had used for my old hair, accidentally hitting the brush against my shoulders. It was a delicate, new strangeness, and I held on to it like a candle, hoping it would lead me to an even newer, stranger strangeness.

It seemed incredibly dangerous to look into each other’s eyes, but we were doing it. For how long can you behold another person? Before you have to think of yourself again, like dipping the brush back in for more ink.

I kissed the backs of his legs and they sang.

When I said “a lot of work,” I moved my hands apart to represent all the work. He stared at the space between my palms and asked if I played the accordion.