keep your hands off me | From "Short Stories From My College Dorm"

keep your hands off me

you take us dating and my letting you sit beside me as yes

you take my letting you hold my hand even when i don't necessarily want to as yes

you take me being silent as yes

but that's because i'm terrified

i'm terrified of you

maybe you know that already though, and that's why you make your advances

that's why you control me and talk me out of things i want to do--out of being my own person

on the bus you'd put your hands in my pocket and let "gravity" take the lead

but you know it was all you

we were teenagers

hormones were taking over is what you mom said after i finally told my own mother after keeping what you did and the true reason for our breakup a secret for three years

the typical "boys will be boys" excuse people give for sexual harassment and hazing

then you went and did worse to my friend

and then again to a bunch of summer camp girls much younger than yourself

you deserve karma

and remember everything that came your way right after the next time someone tells you to keep your hands to yourself