Dog Collar

Lighter

Our couches created a narrow pathway after the door to wander through

Two people could not pass

But I never thought too much about it

As a child I could swing on the arms

Or passing the barrier would allow me to watch tv with my mum

But then you played a joke

And for months its all I thought about

When mum wasn't looking 'we' played games

You took out your lighter and cocked the flame

As the orange light grew you taunted me

Lighter to my waist you placed it centre stage

Between the sofa arms you dared me

'Step over it'

'Get over it'

'Its funny'

You laughed at me as I didn't know what to do

At seven I tried what story books told me to

Can't go around it, can't go over it, we'll have to go under it

As if I was going on a bear hunt

But I'd found the bear

It was dressed up like the wolf

Instead of old ladies clothes it was my mums boyfriends garments

When id try to get past, the fire would move

Near my thighs

Close to my nightie

Pastel pink and blue with an American college symbol in the chest almost burnt to a cinder

The ember was all my eyes could see

When we were alone it was all I could see

Mum didn't believe me

She still doesn't now

'You're an only child who couldn't take a joke'

'Teasing is good for you'

'That never happened don't be ridiculous'

Except it did happen

Over and over

Even now years later

You no longer roam this home

Decades have passed

The sofas have gone

But that gap remains

The void is still there

And every now and then

I wonder if a match will burn in that space

If a match will burn me