He was my first mistake
I was young, impressionable
this was information he was well aware of

A soft yet firm peach torn from the branch before it was fully ripe
coarsely bitten into, intentionally bitten into
then discarded

The bruises on my knees and scrapes on my elbows remind me of that
He was the first mistake

Why I didn't change the locks
Why I didn't say no
why I didn't insist on no

Is this my fault?
Was he my fault?

He was a ravenous shark
and I even told him that
sharks have to eat too, he said

my mother always taught me not to talk to strangers
but Ted Bundy had an enticing smile and electric eyes

I changed the locks
I bandaged my knees
I should have listened to my mother