Page 432 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

My body locks up, back arching, the pleasure bleeding warm in my bones.

“Oh my God,” I whisper when it’s over, my whole body melting into the mattress with a sigh.

I close my eyes, spent.

Only seconds pass…

then my chest’s burning,

heart in a fetal position,

hugging her knees,

rocking, rocking, rocking,

hellfire surrounding her

and burning the backs of my eyes.

A hot tear cuts down my cheek next.

I turn into the comforter to wipe it,

when my eyes land on his pillow.

The Pillow Panties.

My hand crawls under it, scared,

then my fingers catch on cotton.

I sit up fast and rip the pillow back.

Panties.

Black.

Thong.

Flames lick up my throat.

Not HANRO.

Not the ones Celie found.

These have no label,

and motion sickness hits me in stillness.

They could still be mine…

Cotton, size small...

But what if they’re not?

What if some other girl was here?

Maybe my heart should shut the fuck up until we have facts.