Ten Seconds

Ten seconds?

Better make it four

After all there’s that

bump on your cheek

a red mark on your forehead

that will condemn you

to the Land of the Undesirable

the Island of the Ugly

the place where the unwanted go

if they see it for too long

is that what you want?

Of course not

 

So switch on the light

No, not that one

harsh radiating rays

Make your cheeks look too fat

Your hairline abominable

appalling

Fix the angle

Not too low

lest they see vestiges of fat

Muss your hair

pose

 

Wait, your jacket

Unzip it

A little more

little more

Perfect

Just enough

To keep them interested

Just enough

To showcase your assets

(The only two that you have)

Just enough

That they stay

Wanting more

Wanting you

 

Desirable

Because, after all

The best thing a girl could be is

Desired

Wanted

Loved

Adored

Coveted

Pretty

Hot

Sexy

Beautiful

But wait

 

That is not how it goes

He does not say those things

Funny how ten seconds

Is all it takes to ruin a day

Ruin the week

Tear down

What little self confidence

Your mother was able to instill in you

From  childhood

From a time of innocence

That was far too fleeting

 

Ten seconds of

Show me more

Not enough

Pull it lower

Little less

Because that’s all I think of you

And though even you can hear

The manipulation in my phrases

Feel the syrupy stick of the implications

when you swallow this latest development

despite these things

you comply

because I make you feel wanted

and that is all you can ask for

 

Readjust the light

Fix your hair

Curl your eyelashes

Unzip the jacket

Ten seconds?

No, make it four

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[Ana B.]

Beautiful and intense. I loved the message and the raw emotion here.

[Cassandra]

Thank you for the kind words and your time! I appreciate the feedback