The lengthening sky places

a lemon drop of light 

on my forehead. Like a curse 

all dolled up, I think but don’t say.

I’ve been told I have a penchant

for ruining the moment.

I’m taking up both sides 

of the bed again and

holding hands with a new

medication, wondering

if all these calluses
could really be my own.

Still, the world’s busy

putting pretty words 

in my ears and ugly ones 

in my mind. I spit

foaming lies into the

bathroom sink, wash

them down, wipe 

the splatter from the vanity.

Alix Perry is a white, trans, and neurodivergent writer living in Western Oregon. Their work is published or forthcoming in Rogue Agent, Prismatica, the Courage is a Gift anthology, and elsewhere. Their pen-named alter ego writes fiction for Scribd. More @enchantedkeloid on Instagram & Twitter and at alixperrywriting.com.