Inside me is a stranger, a queer and frightened freak. A frayed rope smile and on a face crafted from straw. Rocking-horse knees that stand his scarecrow posture. Her staccato limbed demeanour's too awkward for company.
I used to let him out in the safe homes of friends, where judgements eyes never burned on the back of her head. One night, a boy with bullying hands threw him to the floor and pounded her fist after fist in a burning fury.
Now he won't come out. She doesn't know who she is. And they're sick of being told who they should be.