I once chanced upon
A lonely mannequin*

Discarded and abandoned
She was stripped of her clothes
Vulnerable to her surroundings
Her arm was distorted
Yet she bore no expression
Her wig plastered on a face
She was faceless
A mask she wore

Slowly I approached
Taking ginger steps
One, two, three
Tenderly, I lifted her damp hair

Curiosity killed the cat
A shrilling scream punctured the air
Her face now glowed red
Her body
Writhing in pain

Taken aback
I hastened my pace
Away from her
Away from the plastic mannequin

I once chanced upon
*A lonely mannequin