The Corpse

The corpse is lost. It’s probably on a beach having a vacation. It smelled like a cave. It seemed starved. It was born on the bathroom floor. Strangers held it more than its mother. The wind gave it more life than love.

Once upon a time, a little girl had dreams. So she sneaked into places she wasn’t supposed to. Her hand was held by a hot stove. Her hair was yanked out by a brush. She was taught to stay quiet and still. But pressure is powerful. It pushes out a baby. It makes the calmest person pull the trigger.

Bang. Bang. A toy gun hides in a pink bookbag. No one knows except for you. The class clown steals your bookbag and unzips it. He waves the toy like it’s the best prize he’ll ever receive. The teacher demands he hand it to her right now. “But it’s not mine!” he yells. He points right at you. Detention for life.

The craziest person is one you haven’t met. You think your sibling is the devil, but one day you’ll have a neighbor. They’ll seem nice. They’ll seem sane. They won’t know…