Cruelty hooks fingers
in the sleeve of her sweater
twists strands against flesh
taut offering
of comfort
as the rain falls
into the solitude
between them

damp sussurus
promises
kept
in his way

she wears him
disfigured garment
wrenched
lank
against her skin

reshape and dry flat

she slides herself
within lessened dimensions
stares up at the false-eyed sun
flutters like paper
beneath
mechanized breeze

sometimes, the roof of her mouth
feels as though
it will swallow her
whole

but
in a small room of exits
from which all the care
has been taken
she stays

.