Page 121 of The Secret to Belonging

spoon

pledd

photo

troll

you slam out of the apartment

with so much force

the front door punches a hole

in the wall

you are adrenaline

you are electricity

supernatural fury

propels you down the street

you are fearless, bold, and strong

until you’re not

and then you’re gasping for air

exhausted, shaky, and lost

winos scavenge

coyotes prowl

a silver sedan pulls slowly up to the curb

rolls down the window

and

you’re running again

you barricade yourself inside a phone booth

shove a dime in the slot

punch the number scrawled on your hand

as it rings

you notice a burn across your palm

a blistered pink

Viking rose

FIVE (FEM)