Eat
100
I black out in class.
Jenny dumps her bottle of water on my head.
I awaken with wet hair, wet clothing, and a splitting head-ache.
She is a sadistic imbecile.
The teacher sends me to the nurse.
I attempt to decline.
I am given an ultimatum.
The nurse’s office or the hospital.
I go to the nurse.
She tries to pull my shirt up to check my heartbeat with her stethoscope.
I keep my pudgy fingers wrapped around the hem of my shirt.
Even if she is looking for a heartbeat, she will not find it.
All she will find is the fat, wrapped around my heart, just beneath my skin.
It is dulling the continuous thumping until it can only be heard from within, so I give the lie I always do.
‘‘I . A M . F I N E. . I . A M . J U S T . T I R E D.’’
Jenny dumps her bottle of water on my head.
I awaken with wet hair, wet clothing, and a splitting head-ache.
She is a sadistic imbecile.
The teacher sends me to the nurse.
I attempt to decline.
I am given an ultimatum.
The nurse’s office or the hospital.
I go to the nurse.
She tries to pull my shirt up to check my heartbeat with her stethoscope.
I keep my pudgy fingers wrapped around the hem of my shirt.
Even if she is looking for a heartbeat, she will not find it.
All she will find is the fat, wrapped around my heart, just beneath my skin.
It is dulling the continuous thumping until it can only be heard from within, so I give the lie I always do.
‘‘I . A M . F I N E. . I . A M . J U S T . T I R E D.’’