i will cleanse my body
of unwanted fingerprints
in a scalding shower.
skin will split, melt, peel
and water will run
with the red, red, red
of my blood until i
am tissue and bone.
and a blanket of flesh
will hold me until i awake
and become somebody
you never touched.
Bina Perino is a student at the University of North Texas. She plans on teaching high school English after completing her Bachelor’s. She is a survivor of sexual assault.