I
still thought you were beautiful even after you took off the long,
blonde wig and took out the blue contact lenses and peeled off the
fake eyebrows and the fake black lashes and the clip-on nose ring,
wiped away the foundation, the rouge, the liner, the shadow, the
mascara, the lipstick and gloss and plumper, wiped away the spay-on
tan, the cover-up that hid the tiny whiteheads on your chin, took out
the retainer with the two fake teeth wired to the front, stripped off
the plastic fingernails with French tips, undid the water bra stuffed
with socks and toilet paper, untied the corset, slipped off the high
heels, pulled down the control-top tights, unscrewed your prosthetic
arm. And I still thought you were beautiful when you showed me the
scars on your abdomen and the one across your throat and the one that
snakes along the top of your head. It reminds me of the serpent from
the Garden of Eden, except this time the serpent is sewn into the
ground, and Adam and Eve can do whatever they want.
Michelle Myers
Wonder
When You'll Miss Me
Amanda
Davis