The Passed Note Issue 6 February 2018 | Page 35

Madison White

Winning It

He didn’t hurt

not even the first time

I thought maybe this loss

would clench my teeth

My red ruby jewel ripped

from the closing skin

The morning after

I leaned close to the mirror

My face appeared

in the foggy circle

On the left side of my neck

was an oval, purple or red

I touched it with my finger

the way I might a pendant—

barely