red roses

february surrounds me with red. everywhere i turn, i see hearts, chocolate, and red roses.

but when i close my eyes, i still see red. deep, dark, engulfing red.

i am reminded of you piercing through my body. your words and your toxic masculinity flooding me.

in that moment, red poured from the most private and sacred part of me. because of you, every february, i see red pouring from my hips. february reminds me of the sharp and red deflowering.

so, please, this february, do not buy me red roses.