Eyes glitter

Lips red

Heels high

Smile wide

A girl out with her friends

Salvation is a club downtown

The one with the rainbow lights

She’s found her home

The dancers name her Juliet

But to her parents he is David

The sequins hide beneath her bed

While he watches the blood drip down his arms

To force the girl out

Force the boy in

Spare change buys paint and razors

Mother’s precious little boy

Big brother, little brother

David is the middle sister

Taught to love cars

But plays with dresses

What a sissy

Her father says: “Be a man”

She wants to be wanted

Wanted as a lady

Lets a man touch her

Doesn’t want him

But wants to feel wanted

Doesn’t want this

A man’s hands around her scars

His breath in her face

Is this what it means to be loved?

She can’t say no