It wasn’t until I looked through
the moon

that I realized oily,
black leeches were feasting
on my wild heart.

“Too many daydreams,” explained my father.
“Not enough light,” explained my mother.

I drank saltwater to dry them out;
I floated in the ocean to draw them out.

They would not leave.

My heart was draining.
I became white watercolor with
a hint of pink on my cheekbones,

arctic blue on my lips.

I only have so many heartbeats;
they smack against my rib cage
like birds hitting a window.