My breasts will stay soft
as a whispered love song. I will not bend

to the myth of hardening
myself. I will not

moan at your command, but I will
tell you a secret: I don’t know

the difference between pleasure
and safety. I will fake

my own death if I have to, will stare
at the ceiling and pretend

I can live there, watching us.
Just watching us.

I will bleed and tell you
I’m fine.

You will ask
for my hand and I will say

No. I will not come
with you.

Anastasia DiFonzo (she/her) is a San Diego based poet with one cat named Klaus. Her work can be found or is forthcoming in Anti-Heroin Chic, Gnashing Teeth Publishing, and Sledgehammer Lit. She is on Instagram at @anastasia.difonzo.