By Roseline Mgbodichinma
CW: sexual harassment, gaslighting
On the night the dark muscular man called me
Rubbed my thighs and teased my back rolls with
His fork-shaped hands,
Asking me about numbers and scores on the excel sheet
I curled into different frames of myself,
Like how you wonder if the Monalisa is smiling or throwing you a threat
From the side of the room,
Hands shooing away hands beneath wooden tables,
My brain – a stream of unconsciousness
This was where shock emanated,
I ran into thickness
With Rose thorns tattooing my skin
I paused to catch my breath on the walkway
Knee almost on coal tar,
A hand cupping the 360 of my waist, whispering – are you scared of the dark?
A man full of desire is legion
No saving, only swine
His voice lowered by wanting, speaking testaments into my ears
The flowers, wind & grass bore witness
I wanted to scream and silence seized my
throat,
After the split of minutes, I muttered a weak plea
then I fled into the dark
years later, my phone beeps: You said I tried to rape you when I was just making advances
Me: I am sorry I lied
Heartland Society of Women Writers 