"It has to be white!"
It's an obsession.
Every night
She's in the shower,
Scrubbing away.
"It has to be white!"
She keeps scrubbing.
Some days
She doesn't stop
Until she feels the sting.
"It has to be white!"
She can't stand the filth.
All the time
She waits
For the color to change.
"It has to be white!"
It takes hours
Every time.
Over and over
She scrubs.
When it's finally white,
She lets the water run,
Watching the suds
Like pure snow
Wash away
From her body.
She closes her eyes
And smiles.
In that moment
Of ephemeral bliss,
She hugs herself.
Gripping her shoulders tight,
She whispers,
"I am clean."