Fractures

 

Expert examination:

Bloody stains.

Underbelly.

Thumbprints.

Flimsy cotton swabs.

Camera bulbs – flashing.

 

       Images

Shifting

                    and spinning.

Wand’ring hands.

slurrrrrringworrrrrds.

          Stumbling--lurch forward,

Hand on the back acting as a

          gui

               de.

Comforting touch

      Fingers

          Drifting, creeping.

 

          Chilled                      spine.

                        Shiver.

          “Are you cold?”

 

Layers.

Rough jeans

          Hands

                  soft underwear.

          Pubic hair…

“I can warm you.”

A catch in the throat

                  Ch-o-o-o-kked.

                            Head shake—side

                                                  to side.

 

Grimy cubicle.

Pressed against the wall.

                    frozen and burning.

Stroking.

                 .

                   .                                                

        . Down there.

                                   stale deodorant

                                              flaking off the body.

                                      Salty taste.

 

The world.

         a grungy stall.

Thirteen black and white tiles.

Spidery ceiling cracks.

Mind

         bla     nk      .

                  Flushing toilet.

Scent clinging to the body.

          Can’t rinse it off.

 

​

                     Evidence.

​

 “What were you thinking?”

​

          victim’s fault.

​

“Should have known better.”

​

Case closed.