It's like the time you called your cousin
at 11:30 at night for his chocolate chip cookie
recipe just to hear the sound of another human voice

Or the time you drove four hours just to get a hug
from your mom

It's like when you'd been working here for two
years and your friend Kate comes to visit
and reminds you that you haven't been touched
since you arrived

And you shutter when someone brushes against
you instead

of falling asleep in someone's arms
and you don't lie down with your head
on another person's lap or play with
anyone's hair anymore

It's like it's growing in you--it's like
it's gnawing on tendons and
you can't believe you haven't
jumped

into a waterfall
in seven years

with your best
friends