the intoxicating warmth
of this hot November day
makes her long sleeve
sweater stick to her arms.

she tries to peel it off, but
her raw scars already sting, so
she tries to hide her discomfort in
hopes that no one notices.

next time she will be more careful and
slice her thighs instead with little
zebra cuts. or maybe she will
carve a word instead

and maybe the word will be 'help'
and maybe the word will be 'gone'