i was always taught that sex before marriage was wrong, and the desire of it was sinful; so i always buried and repressed my sexual appetites and desires beneath the tapestry of my mind until i began to see myself as disgusting when i thought of it saw myself as impure— never told anyone when i was horny for fear of scorn or laughter not even my best friend knew of my sexual desires always kept them to myself because that’ s what i taught proper girls did, and now i feel so backward like a harpy whose claws cut inward or a siren being killed with her own song; sometimes i just want to break open the girl i once was, and tell her that everyone has urges for sex whether it’ s wrong or right only heaven knows. only heaven knows Linda M. Crate