The Body

I remember arguing with my mom and leaving my house. I remember standing on the corner and talking to people I didn’t know, but who were very friendly. I spent the first night on my own under a bridge with a homeless man, named Harvey. He smelled bad and was nice enough to share his blanket. The first night was long and cold and I thought about going home, once or twice, but decided I was better on my own.

After two weeks, I met up with a group of people who offered me food, shelter, sex and all the drugs I would ever want, of course I had to pay with sex, but once that electricity started running through my veins, I didn’t care about anything else.

I started promising things I couldn’t make good on and I was left with a brute of a man. He beat and raped me and then had his friends do the same. I was kicked and punched and I hurt so bad, I think this is the only time I actually thought about returning home, of course I would have to get better first.

Better never came. I was starving and I had lice and I was at my lowest, and I can’t believe it’s only been a month. I was offered a new drug, I don’t know from who or what kind it was, but it took me higher than I’ve ever been. I didn’t want to move.

“Who and what is that?” Someone asked.

“I don’t know, some chick, she’s been here a week.” 

I moaned and they left.

The next time I wasn’t so lucky. I was raped and tossed in the corner to…die? I don’t know I just know I was unable to move and I couldn’t talk or cry or scream.

“Get her out of here!” Someone demanded.

I know I was pulled by my feet. Someone was patting me down, looking for something: drugs, money, ID. I don’t’ know. It was a guy and he wiped the matted hair out of my face and looked me in the eye. But I was unable to say anything. I was wrapped in a sheet and then a green lawn bag was wrapped around me and that was taped all up. I was bound and I couldn’t move if I could.

I was draped over his shoulder and carted out and thrown in the back of a pickup truck. I couldn’t see and only heard the thuds and bouncing while rolling over the uneven pavement. I heard the splash and felt the cold water as it crept in through the holes and ends of the garbage bag. I must have sunk to the bottom of a lake, as I felt my feet hit something, my knees buckled and I fell over.

I lay there in the cold, dark water and waited. I tried to move again. I couldn’t breathe. It was here where I died. I’ve been lying here for ages; I have no sense of time now. All I know is I am now floating and bobbing up and down in this lake and just hope someone will see me and get me out of this wetness. Yes, I would definitely go back home, now…if I could.