touched ✓

vii

he, without hesitation,

knocked you

cold,

wiping at his bloody teeth,

and left you

on your own porch.

later,

he accused

me of

c h e a t

i n g

of lying.

and on more

than one occasion,

i had slept beside you.

we didn't have sex,

n o

but i craved your touch

rather

than

his

and i was

g u i l t y

guilty

guiltyguilty

guilt y

so i laid there

l i f e l e s s l y,

until he'd

had his fill of

hitting me.

i don't blame you,

i

deserved

it.